IN THE EVER CHANGING WORLD of modern dating, communication has come a long way from the old-fashioned love letter and awkward phone call. Now, we have dating apps like Tinder, where people can swipe right or left based on a few pictures and a handful of borderline cringeworthy words about themselves.
But what if you could convey more about yourself and your interests with just a few emojis? Sure, emojis get a bad wrap; we’ve all gone a little too heavy with a thumbs-up or a fist clench at least once in our lives. But it turns out there might be an art to emoji use. In fact, emojis could be the unsung heroes of the digital dating environment. But before you fire off a few cheeky love hearts or, er, other stuff, to that significant other, the rule of thumb is, please, don’t overdo it.
Do men or women use the most emojis?
A recent study analysed over 23,000 Tinder bios to determine which emojis were the most commonly used. And the results were interesting. Women used 41 per cent more emojis in their bios than blokes. Perhaps that’s not surprising; women are often more expressive and tend to use emojis to convey emotions and feelings.
Previous research also suggests that both men and women are more inclined to use an emoji when signalling a romantic intention over text, with 73.5 per cent of people choosing to use emojis to convey interest. When signalling friendship intentions in a written message, however, more people (30.1 per cent) chose to avoid emoji use.
What are the most popular emojis?
Topping the list was the male shrug emoji 🤷♂️, used in 1,367 profiles. This playful emoji shows potential matches that you don’t take yourself too seriously, opting for that ‘Is what it is‘ mentality.
The heart emoji ❤️came in second place, appearing 777 times. Its purpose is pretty self-explanatory, showing love and friendliness.
Third place went to the camera emoji,📸 often used to display an Instagram handle.
Why do we use emojis?
So, why are emojis so crucial in the world of online dating? According to the study, people who use emojis are 30 per cent more likely to get responses from messages sent to a match than those who don’t.
Using emojis in your bio or messages makes you appear more approachable and fun, and helps convey your interests and hobbies visually and creatively.
For example, the weightlifting emoji was the second most popular emoji used to show fitness and activity-related interests. 🏋️♂️
The book emoji came in third place, showing people’s love for reading and sparking potential conversations about literature. 📚
And the plane emoji was the most popular emoji used to show a love of travel and adventure. ✈️
But it’s not just about the most popular emojis. It’s also about how you use them. For example, using a laughing emoji in your bio can make you appear more lighthearted and easy-going. Using music-related emojis followed by your favourite genres or bands can help spark a deeper connection with potential matches with similar interests.
Getty Images.
Avoid being a trigger-happy emoji user
It’s essential to use emojis in moderation. You don’t want to come across as too emoji-happy and appear immature or unprofessional. And it’s always a good idea to mix in some actual words and sentences to convey your interests and personality, not to mention prove that you’re literate. The theory that less is more is the general consensus with emojis. Replying with a question or a statement keeps the conversion flowing instead of a singular laughing emoji. Of course, there are some downsides to using emojis in online dating. For example, some people may not understand the meaning behind certain emojis or may misinterpret them entirely, leaving you in an awkward situation.
Ultimately, emojis are just one tool in the toolbox of modern dating. But they can be a powerful one. So, next time you update your Tinder profile or send a message to a potential match, don’t be afraid to throw in a few emojis to help convey your personality and interests. Who knows, it might just be the thing that helps you find your perfect match.
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