Today is World Emoji Day: Did you know that World Emoji Day is on July 17th because that is the date shown on the calendar emoji? World Emoji Day shines a light on how emojis have revolutionized communication and celebrates how they have become a universal language.
Long, long ago, in the ancient era of the 1990s (feels like it), a digital revolution was underway. Mobile phones started gaining popularity, but they lacked a crucial element—the ability to convey emotions through text.
Imagine trying to tell someone that you’re happy, sad, or even hungry with just plain text. It was a challenge! That’s when a brilliant solution emerged from the land of Japan.
Shigetaka Kurita unleashed a collection of small, colorful icons that could be used to express various emotions and ideas.These tiny masterpieces were called “emojis”—a combination of the Japanese words “e” (meaning picture) and “moji” (meaning character). And just like that, a new way of communicating was born!
Emojis quickly captured the hearts of people worldwide. They added a touch of fun, quirkiness, and personality to our conversations, making them so much more expressive and engaging.
Over time, emojis evolved, sprouting new categories and expressions to keep up with our ever-changing digital landscape. From smiley faces to thumbs up, pizza slices to dancing ladies, emojis became the ultimate language of emotions.
But emojis didn’t stop at just emotions: They expanded their horizons to represent a diverse range of people, cultures, and experiences, fostering inclusivity and breaking down language barriers.
And here’s a fun fact: The Oxford English Dictionary even declared the “Face with Tears of Joy” emoji as the Word of the Year in 2015, highlighting the impact emojis have had on our modern communication!
Emojis didn’t just capture the hearts of individuals: They also caught the attention of brands and businesses around the world. Recognizing the power of these expressive icons, companies began incorporating emojis into their marketing strategies.
Brands realized that emojis were a universal language, capable of conveying emotions and messages with just a simple icon. They started using emojis in their advertisements, social media campaigns, and even product packaging.
From the iconic pizza chain that used the pizza emoji to tantalize our taste buds, to the fashion brands that adorned their clothing lines with heart and smiley face emojis, companies discovered that emojis could add a playful and relatable touch to their brand messaging.
Consumers embraced these emoji-infused campaigns, finding them fun, relatable, and a refreshing way to engage with their favorite brands. It was a language understood by all.
So, on this World Emoji Day, let’s celebrate the power of these tiny symbols that have revolutionized the way we connect with one another across the globe.
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