Express Yourself

We've all seen them and chances are good that we've all used them. There is no doubt that emojis have become as commonplace in communication as punctuation marks. There is literally a little symbol for every emotion you can imagine. Whether you are having a good day or a bad day, you can easily express yourself with the click of an emoji as compared to a paragraph or more describing your feelings. On one hand, emojis have simplified the way we communicate, which likely results in us communicating more than ever before. The flip side is that we are spending less time thinking and truly communicating our feelings into words. Is this a bad thing? Some might say yes, while others may say no. What is undeniable is the increasing presence of emojis in our everyday communication.

Emojis: Are they changing how we communicate with each other?
And let's be clear, emojis have become BIG business! I was in a store the other day and noticed emoji-themed pillows, bedding, and stuffed toys. Really...I'm not kidding! I even stumbled upon emoji-themed birthday party materials. From balloons to napkins to plates, there were tons of party ware for those who truly want to celebrate with symbols. Now, I personally think it's a bit much when someone actually spends money on a pillow shaped like poop, but I can't help but be mesmerized at how quickly emojis have become a cultural norm.

Just when I thought I could not be more intrigued by the emoji insurgence, my staff introduced me to Bitmoji. This app allows you to create your own avatar, which then creates a horde of emoji-like captions featuring your avatar that you can be used in text messages. Mind blown! Needless to say, it did not take much to convince me to build my own avatar and before the night was over, I was sending bitmojis of myself exclaiming things like LOL and SMH! It was so much fun that I temporarily became a bitmoji ambassador and convinced a number of family and friends to create their own avatar. I still find it hilarious every time my sister-in-law responds to a text with her avatar (who happens to wear a crown). Bitmoji has definitely brought along a certain amount of playfulness that makes communicating with others more enjoyable, but what I appreciate the most is the innovative way it has allowed me to express myself.