One of the great virtues of emojis are their ability to mark tone where plain text cannot. A simple β€οΈ Red Heart can add affection to a text message. A string of π π π Face With Tears of Joy can show we find something funny in a social media post. Yet in the small space of an emoji, itβs not always so easy to encapsulate the full complexity of our emotions. Consider π.
On the Apple keyboard, π shares its raised brows and comma-shaped side-eyes with π Unamused Face, but boasts a half-smile co*cked up to the left instead. π is definitely amused in some way, but how, exactly? Itβs time again for some emojiology.
Above: On Apple's keyboard, the Smirking Face emoji (left) and the Unamused Face emoji (center) share the same eyes but very different smiles. The Smirking Face emoji also has a cat smiley variant (right), Cat Face With Wry Smile.
As its official name reveals, π Smirking Face represents the facial expression of a smirk. Itβs used to communicate a range of feelings, including smugness, self-confidence, self-indulgence, mischief, cheeky humor, and general satisfaction. π Smirking Face especially implies, however, flirtation and sexual innuendo.
#IGotDetentionFor correcting the English teacher's grammarπ
β TriΕityΒ° (@ii4trinity) March 7, 2018
π Smirking Face popularly debuted in 2010 with its approval under Unicode 6.0. Apple did include the emoji, though, in its initial implementation of emoji support as part of iPhone OS 2.2 in 2008, though on a limited basis in Japan.
Above: How the Smirking Face emoji displays across platforms. Note that only Mozilla's smiley looks straight ahead.
Wedged between π Face With Rolling Eyes and π£ Persevering Face, π Smirking Face bears some notable similaritiesβand contrastsβon different keyboards.
Across the major platforms, the character sports a knowing smile upturned to the faceβs left, though its length and sharpness widely vary. The smiles on Google and Microsoftβs π Smirking Face, for instance, have softer curves, portraying a shyer, kinder-seeming smiley. LG and Facebook leave out eyebrows, while Mozilla alone depicts eyes looking straight ahead; the rest of the smileys squint impishly to their left.
π Smirking Face christened Twitter in May 2011, and skyrocketed on social media later that summer with Appleβs release of OS X Lion, which supported emoji for its desktop computers.
In 2015, Snapchat thrust π Smirking Face into further prominence when it launched Friend Emojis, a feature designed to help users manage their contacts on the messaging app by using emoji to symbolize friendship statuses. Among them was the π Smirking Face, which means: βYou are one of their best friendsβ¦but they are not a best friend of yours. You donβt send them many snaps, but they send you a lot.β With its π Smirking Face, Snapchat implies the messaging imbalance is a dirty little secret the favored friend can take some pleasure in.
Some Snapchatters greeted the change with a π Smirking Face:
The new snapchat update gives me another reason to love this emoji π
β C a i t l i n ΰ₯ (@Caitlin0Sanders) April 6, 2015
Others gave it the ole π Unamused Face:
I feel rly uncomfortable with the new snapchat update there is a "π" emoji next to a conversation with my mum wtf ????
β emily (@emilypugh_) April 6, 2015
Snapchat may have made @emilypugh_ feel βuncomfortableβ because of π Smirking Face's increasing use to signal flirtation or punctuate suggestive remarks in internet dating culture in the late 2010s.
In 2017, Clover analyzed emoji behavior on its dating app, and the π Smirking Face ranked among the top emojis that users were likely to reply to on the platformβ#4 for women and #1 for men.
The π Smirking Face was also a top emoji men liked to send, according to Clover. That overeager use may have helped sully the smileyβs associations with sleazy come-ons or cheesy pickup lines in dating apps and private/direct messages. One tweeter summed up such unwelcome emoji advances:
Some guy I don't know messaged me on Facebook saying "Hey π" then *____sent a photo* then "You know you like it, just accept it." Definitely not opening that chat.
β Emmy Davis (@YCemmy96) January 11, 2018
π Smirking Face exhibits meanings as many and as subtle as the complex facial expression that inspired itβhence it also answers to the names Flirting, Sexual Face, Smug Face, or Suggestive Smile emoji.
Letβs highlight some of the diverse shades of π Smirking Face.
This self-satisfied π Smirking Face is too cool for school:
Too cool for lame dudes to ridicule. π
β Don Greene (@Goin4Gusto) July 16, 2011
While this π Smirking Face basks in some due pride and accomplishment:
I am coming...#Workout done π#KBWeightlossjourney pic.twitter.com/E4J6oKB3KA
β KBSOUTHAFRICA (@kbsouthafrica) March 8, 2018
π Smirking Face can bob the head, as if to say βnot too shabbyβ:
Pretty good feeling when the instructor could tell that I was a law student from the way I spoke/read and was impressed by it. Not too shabby π
β Kristen Alyssa (@krissylove) March 1, 2018
Or a sly βI know a secretβ:
I know something you donβt know. π
β VINCINT (@VINCINT_) February 1, 2018
Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/PA8zhcHm6U
YouTube star Jack Merridew is being a little naughty, if not kinky, with his π Smirking Face:
Anybody have any questions for a bathtub Q&A? π#AskJackM Make them juicy
β Jack Merridew (@OfficialJackM) March 8, 2018
While @YeaaahKevin, here, drops a coquettish, but cute, π Smirking Face:
Katy Perry is single? Shaaawdy @katyperry. π
β Kevo (@YeaaahKevin) December 30, 2011
Landon Mossβs π Smirking Face marks a joke that is clever but true:
Yβall had enough Steveβs I think itβs time for a Stephon π https://t.co/WzMbEGv13Q
β LβChalla Moss (@_LandonMoss) March 8, 2018
Officer Edithβs π Smirking Face is all about some good-natured silliness:
"You're not going to post those anywhere are you?"
β Officer Edith (@OfficerEdith) March 8, 2018
"No, no, just documenting the scene is all.
π" pic.twitter.com/zhc155U6E4
Others treat themselves to some indulgent self-care with π Smirking Face:
β Vanessa Meza (@AleAle_jaandra) March 8, 2018Time To Treat MySelfβ€
Getting My Hair Did & Doing Some Shopping This Weekendπ
With a snap of the finger gun and a chick-chick out of the corner of the mouth, π Smirking Face can also trigger the delight of βThis is what Iβm talking aboutβ π Smirking Face:
My dad came in clutch with the snacks π
β Kay (@KayyAntoine) February 25, 2018
And many, many, many fans of K-pop sprinkle their affection for their favorite stars with π Smirking Face:
You are art, bae β€π#GeniusYoongiDay #HappyAgustDday @BTS_Peru @BTS_twt pic.twitter.com/mAZ8Y4fUHN
β Briggitte Dayanna (@kpop192003) March 8, 2018
As weβve seen, π Smirking Face is widely used to communicate an array of sentiments. The emoji can be just what we need to mic-drop a wisecrack or spice up some banter, but its ambiguity can cause some awkwardness.
Be particularly mindful of its negative and suggestive connotations when using π Smirking Face, especially as its appearance varies across platforms. One person might see π Smirking Face as an innocent smile or friendly wink while another might interpret it as conceited, untoward, or even lewd.
And remember, for all the similarities in their eyes, π Smirking Face is not the same as π Unamused Face.
To avoid any βuncomfortableβ miscommunications, consider pairing π Smirking Face with, well, π Face With Tears of Joy if intending humor or β€οΈ Red Heart, if romance. Perhaps π Smiling Face With Sunglasses, which often accompanies π Smirking Face, can help more clearly maintain the sense of cleverness or contentment.
Or try π Smirking Face's less loaded feline counterpart, πΌ Cat Face With Wry Smile. We all know cats are unmistakably smug πππ.
I'm an enthusiast with a deep understanding of the fascinating world of emojis and their intricate nuances. My knowledge stems from both extensive research and personal experience in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of digital communication.
Now, let's delve into the concepts explored in the article:
1. Emojis and Tone in Text: The article highlights one of the virtues of emojis: their ability to convey tone in text where plain text might fall short. Emojis, such as the β€οΈ Red Heart or π Face With Tears of Joy, can add emotional depth to messages.
2. π Smirking Face Emoji: The focus of the article is on the π Smirking Face emoji. The author discusses its evolution, variations across different platforms, and its diverse range of meanings. From smugness and self-confidence to flirtation and sexual innuendo, the emoji has become a versatile tool for expressing a myriad of emotions.
3. Evolution and Popularization: The article traces the history of the π Smirking Face emoji, mentioning its debut in 2010 under Unicode 6.0 and its increasing popularity on social media platforms. Snapchat's use of the emoji in Friend Emojis further contributed to its prominence.
4. Platform Variances: The emoji's appearance varies across different platforms, with differences in the length and sharpness of the smile. Google and Microsoft's versions, for example, feature softer curves, while LG and Facebook omit eyebrows. These subtle distinctions contribute to the emoji's interpretation.
5. Social and Cultural Impact: The article touches on the social and cultural impact of the π Smirking Face emoji, particularly in the context of internet dating culture. It became associated with flirtation and, at times, unwelcome advances, as seen in the analysis of emoji behavior on dating apps.
6. Multiple Meanings: The π Smirking Face emoji is versatile, representing various sentiments from self-satisfaction and accomplishment to slyness and secret-keeping. The article provides examples of how individuals use the emoji in different contexts, such as humor, self-care, or expressing affection for K-pop stars.
7. Interpretation Challenges: The article advises users to be mindful of the emoji's potential negative and suggestive connotations, emphasizing that interpretations can vary. It suggests pairing the π Smirking Face with other emojis, like π Face With Tears of Joy or β€οΈ Red Heart, to provide clarity and avoid miscommunications.
8. Similar Emojis: The article briefly mentions the importance of distinguishing between the π Smirking Face and the π Unamused Face. It suggests using accompanying emojis like π Smiling Face With Sunglasses or πΌ Cat Face With Wry Smile to enhance or clarify the intended tone.
In summary, the article explores the complexity and richness of the π Smirking Face emoji, shedding light on its evolution, interpretations, and cultural significance in digital communication.
