Smiley overload? The correct way to use emojis when working from home

Millions around the world are communicating with colleagues via messenger every day for the first time during a historic lockdown. But not everyone agrees on the right way to use emojis. — dpa

The first emoticon was a simple colon, dash and a bracket to make a smiley face. That was back in the 1980s when computer scientist Scott Fahlman wanted a symbol to mark ironic or funny statements in computer chats.

Today such symbols are everywhere. Emoticons have long since been replaced by emojis, small graphics representing facial expressions, animals and everyday objects.