Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Have I been committing a social faux pas with my use of the thumbs up emoji?

31 replies

TheYearOfSmallThings · 10/03/2022 22:25

On a few threads recently I've seen people suggest using the thumbs up emoji to be dismissive, mocking or to end an unwelcome exchange.

I use it a lot, meaning it in a friendly and positive way where I want to agree with something or wish someone luck.

Should I stop? Is this like David Cameron thinking LOL meant lots of love and sending it when someone's parent had died?

OP posts:
onemorerose · 10/03/2022 22:26

It can be used sarcastically or in the ways you’ve stated. Just like the thumbs up in real life I suppose

cheapskatemum · 10/03/2022 22:26

I use it a lot too.

Original poster
TheYearOfSmallThings · 10/03/2022 22:31

It's just I've seen a couple of people say "Surely this is what thumbs-up emoji is for!", and I started to think "Is it?!"

OP posts:
purplepaintedpineapple · 10/03/2022 22:39

I think it's better than a tick which my sister always sends me and annoys me for some reason as just seems very dismissive/let's end the conversation!

TidyDancer · 10/03/2022 22:42

I'm not sure I would class it as a social faux pas, but to me it's a lazy response. I find it's generally used instead of saying okay or yes. I don't use it personally.

RaininSummer · 10/03/2022 22:42

We use it at work to indicate ok, understood, yes etc. Never seen it used in any other way

WallaceinAnderland · 10/03/2022 22:46

I get you OP. It means a sarcastic OK. Like if your friend/dp bailed on you at the last minute you just thumbs up their message.

TheRealityCheque · 10/03/2022 22:52

@WallaceinAnderland

I get you OP. It means a sarcastic OK. Like if your friend/dp bailed on you at the last minute you just thumbs up their message.
It doesn't though. Not at all.

I'd suggest that only a sarcastic person would interpret it as a sarcastic response.

GreenTeaPingPong · 10/03/2022 22:56

I think how it comes across depends on the context. So if someone has just sent a long heartfelt message and you reply with a thumbs up, that's when it's sarcastic or dismissive. But if you're in a whatsapp group of friends arranging a coffee and someone says, let's make it 11.00am instead of 10.45 and you reply with thumbs up, that's entirely fine.

Original poster
TheYearOfSmallThings · 10/03/2022 22:58

It would be mostly the latter (I don't get that many long heartfelt messages tbh!)

OP posts:
Hollyhead · 10/03/2022 22:58

I always thought it was shorthand for ‘yes sounds great!’

NETSRIK · 10/03/2022 23:01

@TheYearOfSmallThings

On a few threads recently I've seen people suggest using the thumbs up emoji to be dismissive, mocking or to end an unwelcome exchange.

I use it a lot, meaning it in a friendly and positive way where I want to agree with something or wish someone luck.

Should I stop? Is this like David Cameron thinking LOL meant lots of love and sending it when someone's parent had died?

👍
Original poster
TheYearOfSmallThings · 10/03/2022 23:05
Grin
OP posts:
Original poster
TheYearOfSmallThings · 10/03/2022 23:06

Wait, I am now questioning my usage of the Grin emoji.

OP posts:
duckme · 10/03/2022 23:07

I don't know OP, my most used emoji is the crying laughing one which, I have been informed, marks my age as 'bloody old'!

Smokeahontas · 10/03/2022 23:11

I use it in an ‘ok’ context…as in

‘Does 2pm suit?’
👍🏻

Okeydoky · 10/03/2022 23:11

@duckme were you told this by a teenager? Trying to make myself feel better as it's mine too

janeseymour78 · 10/03/2022 23:14

Colleagues at work use it and I don't like it. I find it lazy and standoffish.

Luredbyapomegranate · 10/03/2022 23:16

It’s usually used by adults to mean ok / yes / good stuff / excellent.

You’d have to be neurotic to think otherwise without good reason.

tigerbird · 10/03/2022 23:16

I’m on a hobby Discord with some of these young people they have these days, and they tell me that instead of 😂 you need a skull emoji, as in “I’m dead from laughing”

The skull one is definitely a bit two edged with the old sarcasm though. And it can also mean “rip” which is “I’m dead because something unfortunate has happened to me”, eg. “my dog ate my homework, rip me”

42isthemeaning · 10/03/2022 23:20

My dd says RIP all the time on her WhatsApp messages- thanks for explaining that. Isn't language a funny thing?

Original poster
TheYearOfSmallThings · 10/03/2022 23:26

I find it lazy and standoffish.

See I am lazy, but I'm not standoffish and I wouldn't want anyone to think that.

OP posts:
GreenTeaPingPong · 10/03/2022 23:30

I've recently started a new job, and people use a smiley face emoji all the time in emails, which I found very weird at first. E.g.

Hi Susan
Could you tell me where the data file on x is?
Thank you Smile
Laura

It's got to the point where I'm worrying that if I don't use a smiley then people will think I'm unfriendly!
And the email system doesn't support other emojis, only those you can type, so it's just this weird smiley with eyes closed.

Rummikub · 10/03/2022 23:33

@duckme

I don't know OP, my most used emoji is the crying laughing one which, I have been informed, marks my age as 'bloody old'!
😂

That one?
Uh oh need to switch then tk a more ageless one.

I do read 👍 as dismissive

ukborn · 10/03/2022 23:33

I use it as 'ok', usually as a confirmation of something. Like 'see you tomorrow at noon' and I'd use the thumbs up emoji in reply.