Apparently, it doesn’t only make you look old but rude too.
The debate regarding the emoticon heated up when a Redditor asked others if they found it passive-aggressive too.
“I started an ‘adult’ job where we use Microsoft Teams to connect with each other for work,” the person explained.
“Currently, there are only a few emojis you can use to react to a message (unless of course, you respond, and can use any emoji).
“Most people at work use the ‘thumbs-up’ reaction all the time. I don’t use it much. I either ‘heart’ reactions or reply even if it’s a short ‘Great!’ or ‘Thanks!’ (I also feel like I use too many exclamation marks, but that’s a different story).
“Anyway, I think it’s normal to ‘thumbs up’ messages, but I still feel like it’s such an unsettling response. Does anyone else feel this way?”
Naturally, there’s been a wave of responses, with people divided on what the emoji stands for.
“It’s super rude if someone just sends you a thumbs up. So I also had a weird time adjusting because my workplace is the same.
“So yeah, it’s a generational communication culture difference.”
In agreement, a second user says: “I don’t know why but it seemed a little bit hostile to me, like an acknowledgment but kind of saying ‘I don’t really care/am not interested?”
“It’s not that odd to see it as passive-aggressive,” weighs in a third. “Just imagine how would it feel to go into your boss’ room, say something, and then see him turn to you, look you in the eye, and give you a thumbs up.”
However, others think people are reading far too much into the emoji, with one Redditor responding: “Passive aggressive? Are you being serious or facetious? It’s a thumbs up.”
“You’re thinking about it too much! Use whatever you want,” adds another.
According to the Emojipedia website, it’s acknowledged that the thumbs-up emoji ‘can be construed as being passive aggressive or sarcastic.’ It states that while some people may use it this way, it also represents a way of ‘quickly and earnestly expressing approval.’
Recently, Fox News host Emily Compagno weighed in on the matter and said she doesn’t care what Gen Z thinks about her and the emojis she uses in a recent debate on the channel.
She stated: “We have to somehow change our behavior and our silent communication because they’re a bunch of snowflakes? No, thanks.”
