Gen Z is urging people to stop using the thumbs-up emoji, claiming it comes across as ‘passive-aggressive.’
What do you think is the most passive aggressive emoji?
I’d say the classic smiley face, with its various iterations of even bigger smiles, has developed a more sarcastic edge over time. 🙂
It’s worth considering that I’m a Millennial, so my perspective might differ if I were born just a few years later.
The idea that Gen Zers—those born in the late ’90s and early ’00s—view the thumbs up emoji as passive-aggressive emerged from a Reddit post, where it was described as ‘unsettling’.
In the post, the Reddit user shared that they had begun working in a professional setting where staff frequently used Microsoft Teams for communication.
“The post, shared a couple of years ago, noted: ‘Right now, there are only a few emojis available for reacting to messages (unless you reply directly, in which case you can use any emoji). Most people at work stick to the ‘thumbs up’ reaction all the time.'”
Does the thumbs up emoji incite fear in you? (Getty Stock Image)
“I don’t use it much,” the Redditor added. “I usually opt for ‘heart’ reactions or reply directly, even if it’s just a quick ‘Great!’ or ‘Thanks!’”
“While giving a ‘thumbs up’ to messages seems pretty standard, I can’t help but find it a bit unsettling. Does anyone else feel the same?”
After sharing their thoughts, the Reddit user was inundated with responses reassuring them that they weren’t alone in feeling a bit unsettled by the thumbs-up.
While for some a thumbs-up might signify positivity, a job well done, or just an acknowledgment that everything’s fine, for others, it’s the last thing they want to see.
“One person commented, ‘For younger people, the thumbs-up emoji can come off as passive-aggressive and rude if used alone. I had a hard time adjusting to this because my workplace has a similar culture.’”
Another person commented: “It might feel unsettling because it seems impersonal. Based on this post, you strike me as someone who values more genuine interactions.”
The conversation continued on X, with more and more people agreeing.
“Look, I don’t make the rules, but the thumbs-up emoji comes off as passive-aggressive. I’m not sure why, but it definitely gives off bad vibes,” one person commented.
