Definition of Emoticon
The term emoticon is a shortened word for “emotion" and "icons" which often accompany computer-mediated textual communications (CMC). According to Skovholt et al (2014), emoticons may be produced by ASCII symbols (:-)) or by “pictograms,” which are graphic symbols (smiley face).
Description and background
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is ubiquitous. It has experienced an explosive development in the last decades, entering our lives at workplaces, homes and schools. Teachers have had to update their knowledge about ICTs worldwide, as ICT use and media literacies have become part of national core curriculums in compulsory education, particularly in the Nordic countries (Wollscheid et al. 2016, 70). To discuss issues regarding ICT in teaching and learning, teachers interested in this issue have created various Facebook pages.
Due to new media, Internet connection and modern technological devices, written communication has experienced a transformation as well. We can send messages to each other from anywhere and at any time, and receive them within seconds. Particularly, short messages using different instant messaging and social media platforms have become very popular due to their ease of use. In these short messages people tend to use emoticons in order to soften the message, and to clarify the state of mind in which the message is sent in order to avoid misunderstandings that might occur from reading merely the plain text.
The use of emoticons has certainly clarified many messages and avoided many misunderstandings, however, it has simultaneously changed the way people write and express themselves, and their emotions.