What Does the Thumbs Up 👍 Emoji Mean & Why Is It So Controversial?

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Plus, how to tell when someone’s sending 👍 sarcastically
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While the thumbs up 👍 emoji often indicates approval, it can be seen as sarcastic, insincere, or passive aggressive in some contexts. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about this controversial emoji, including what it means and why some Gen Z-ers perceive think it's hostile. We’ll also cover the best ways to respond to the 👍 emoji, plus a list of related emojis you can use instead.

Thumbs Up 👍 Emoji Overview

The 👍 emoji is commonly used to express approval (like saying “sure” or “sounds good”), but it can come off as sarcastic or passive aggressive depending on the context of the conversation. Gen Z-ers believe the emoji is insincere and low effort, especially when used in response to a longer message or deeper topic.

Section 1 of 6:

What does the thumbs up 👍 emoji mean?

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  1. Step 1 The 👍 emoji usually indicates approval.
    Generally, the thumbs up emoji is a substitute for typing out “yes” or “sounds good.” It’s a quick and easy way to give your stamp of approval and express agreement with someone.[1]
    • “I’m down to grab lunch later 👍”
    • Them: “Want to grab dinner at 7 PM?”
      You: “👍”
  2. Step 2 The 👍 emoji may also signal sarcasm or dislike.
    For Generation Z, or those born between the mid-1990s and 2010, the thumbs up emoji is considered passive aggressive. It can be used to express dislike or disinterest in whatever’s being discussed.[2]
    • You: “I just got into a fight with my roommate.”
      Them: “👍”
      You: “Guess I’ll never text you about my issues again…”
    • You: “Guess what!?”
      Them: “?”
      You: “I just landed an interview at my dream company!!!!! I can't believe it 🤩🤩🤩”
      Them: “👍”
      You: “Geez, thanks for the support 😒”
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Section 2 of 6:

Why is the thumbs up 👍 emoji controversial?

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  1. The 👍 emoji is controversial because it can be easily misinterpreted.
    Since the emoji is so commonly used, the original positive meaning may have become lost, and it can be viewed as a way to shut down a conversation, rather than continue it. The emoji may be interpreted as sarcastic or insincere, especially since people cannot clarify their tone or intent over text.[3]
Section 3 of 6:

When is the thumbs up 👍 emoji passive aggressive?

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  1. Consider the sender’s age and the overall context of the conversation.
    Gen Z-ers are more likely to use the emoji in a sarcastic or passive aggressive way, so reflect on the entire conversation (and your relationship with the other person) to determine their intent. If they send the emoji in response to a serious or lengthy message, it may be a sign that they’re brushing you off.[4] Other signs that the thumbs up emoji is being used passive aggressively include:
    • Overuse or repetition: Spamming a conversation with the thumbs up emoji comes off as insincere, sarcastic, or mocking.
    • Length of the messages: If the thumbs up emoji is used in response to a longer message, it suggests that the other person is annoyed or reluctant to respond.
    • Topic of the conversation: Sending the emoji in response to a serious topic comes off as rude and disrespectful. It shows you’re not interested in coming up with a meaningful reply.
    • Change in texting behavior: If the sender takes a while to respond or doesn’t usually send emojis, sending a thumbs up emoji could signal they’re over the conversation.
    • Overall tone of the conversation: If the conversation seems tense or emotionally charged, the emoji might reinforce that negative tone. This is especially true if they pair it with short, dismissive replies like “yeah,” “sure,” or “whatever.”
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Section 4 of 6:

How to Respond to the Thumbs Up 👍 Emoji

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  1. Step 1 Send an unamused emoji if the other person is being sarcastic.
    If you’re expecting a detailed reply from someone and they hit back with a 👍, send them an annoyed or unamused emoji to express your feelings. It shows that you’re disappointed, hurt, and/or upset that they’re not invested in the conversation.
    • You: “Josh just asked me out!!!”
      Them: “👍”
      You: “🙄”
    • You: “I passed my driver’s test!”
      Them: “👍”
      You: “😑😑😑”
  2. Step 2 Don’t reply to the other person if they’re being passive aggressive.
    If you’re in a heated discussion with someone and they send you a 👍, consider leaving the chat to avoid hostility. Sometimes, saying nothing is the best response, especially if you want to avoid escalating the situation. Come back to the conversation after a few hours, the next day, or whenever you think the other person has cooled down.
    • You: “I’m sorry. My intention was never to hurt you, but I think we can both agree that there was a lot of miscommunication leading up to the event.”
      Them: “👍”
    • You: “Hey, can you be more mindful about keeping the common areas clean? I noticed your packages have been in the living room for over 2 weeks…”
      Them: “👍”
  3. Step 3 Reply with “awesome” if the other person is giving you their approval.
    If the other person is using the 👍 emoji to confirm plans with you or validate something you’ve said, feel free to reply with “awesome,” “perfect,” “great,” or some other short form of acknowledgment. It’s more thoughtful and polite than leaving them on read, or replying with a Tap Back.
    • You: “So, coffee at 1 PM on Saturday?”
      Them: “👍”
      You: “Perfect, see you soon!”
    • You: “I think I should invite Candace so she doesn’t think I have beef with her.”
      Them: “Totally 👍”
      You: “Okay, awesome. Texting her rn.”
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Section 5 of 6:

Thumbs Up 👍 Emoji Copy & Paste

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  1. Highlight the 👍 emoji, right-click the mouse or trackpad, and hit “Copy.”
    Then, navigate to the space you want to paste the emoji, right-click the mouse or trackpad, and hit “Paste” to copy and paste the 👍 emoji on your computer.
    • The 👍 emoji’s unicode is U+1F44D.
    • If you need to display the thumbs up emoji in your HTML code, type in “&#x1F44D.”[5]
    • Some fonts, like Twemoji and EmojiOne, include a wide range of emojis you can use, as long as you include a reference to the font in your HTML code and use the corresponding character code.
Section 6 of 6:

Other Hand Sign Emojis

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  1. The 👍 emoji is just one of many gesture emojis.
    From the OK hand emoji to the peace emoji, there are tons of ways to express yourself. Use any of the following options when 👍 doesn’t convey what you’re trying to say:
    • 👌 (OK hand) = means “okay” or “yes, that’s correct”
    • ✊ (raised fist) = a sign of solidarity or resistance
    • 🤝 (handshake) = a greeting, a sign of agreement, or a truce
    • 👐 (open hands) = symbolizes openness or friendliness
    • 🫶 (heart hands) = love, affection, kindness, support, and positivity
    • ✌️ (victory hand) = used to show support or say goodbye to someone
    • 👋 (waving hand) = used to say “hello” or “goodbye”
    • 🤙 (call me hand) = means “call me” or “hit me up”
    • 🙏 (folded hands) = gratitude, spirituality, prayer, and hopefulness
    • 👊 (oncoming fist) = represents a fist bump
    • 🙌 (raising hands) = celebrating something or showing agreement
    • 👎 (thumbs down) = indicates disapproval
    • 🤏 (pinching hand) = used in place of the words “small” or “little”
    • 🤞 (crossed fingers) = wishing someone luck
    • 🤟 (love you gesture) = used to say “I love you”
    • 🤘 (sign of the horns) = used to say “rock on” and discuss music
    • 🤲 (palms up together) = represents praying or begging
    • 🫰 (hand with index finger and thumb crossed) = represents love or money
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  • In 2023, a Canadian judge ruled that the thumbs up emoji can be used to form a contract between 2 parties. This case doesn’t establish precedent in U.S. courts, but it does offer an interesting (and perhaps controversial) interpretation of what emojis mean in digital communications.[6]
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References

  1. ↑ https://emojipedia.org/thumbs-up
  2. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/language-in-the-mind/202211/whats-so-wrong-about-using-the-thumbs-up-emoji
  3. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/language-in-the-mind/202211/whats-so-wrong-about-using-the-thumbs-up-emoji
  4. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/language-in-the-mind/202211/whats-so-wrong-about-using-the-thumbs-up-emoji
  5. ↑ https://www.w3schools.com/charsets/ref_emoji_hands.asp
  6. ↑ https://thelawassociation.nz/canadian-court-recognises-thumbs-up-emoji-as-valid-acceptance-of-contract/

About This Article

Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones
Reviewed by:
Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones
Social Media Marketing Expert
This article was reviewed by Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones and by wikiHow staff writer, Bailey Cho. Anyah Gilmore-Jones is a Social Media Marketing Expert based in Nashville, Tennessee. An innovative experiential and social media marketer, Anyah is skilled at creating engaging brand experiences and leverages her passion for connecting people and ideas to drive organic growth for purpose-driven brands. As the founder of GROW by Gilmore, a social media strategy company, Anyah develops data-driven social media strategies focused on authentic community building. She has over 4 years of experience spearheading viral campaigns and producing content for brands like HBCU Buzz, Black & Scholared, SHEIN, and Project Art Collective. She received her BA from Howard University in Political Science and Government. This article has been viewed 3,629 times.
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Co-authors: 4
Updated: November 26, 2024
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Categories: Emoticons and Emojis
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