We’ve been using smiley faces online for 40 years now. How did that become a thing?


'Critics of emoticons argue that they erode the ability of people to communicate clearly and use language creatively in cyberspace, as well as in other forms of writing,' Brittanica.com said.— Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik

In the early days of the Internet, computer scientist Scott Fahlman ran into a problem on Carnegie Mellon University’s online bulletin boards.

People used the bulletin boards – a kind of primitive online forum – to chat about everything from lost belongings to parking at the Philadelphia university.

Subscribe now and receive free sooka plan for 1 month. T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Others Also Read


Want to listen to full audio?

Unlock unlimited access to enjoy personalise features on the TheStar.com.my

Already a member? Log In