How emoji use at work can determine how competent your colleagues think you are

Phys · Apr 26, 2026 · 827 words · By Erin Leigh Courtice

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Daily briefing

What to know about Workplace Communication Norms

A study published in Collabra: Psychology found that the use of emojis in workplace instant messages can affect how competent and appropriate a message is perceived. The research indicated that messages with no emoji generally received the highest ratings, and when emojis were used, they needed to match the message's emotional tone to avoid appearing passive-aggressive or insincere.

Propaganda risk 10%

Claims checked 14

Techniques found 1

Topics 1

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center83%

Right17%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

How emoji use at work can determine how competent your colleagues think you are Gaby Clark scientific editor Andrew Zinin lead editor You've typed it, deleted it and typed it again.

Why it matters

You need to let your colleague know there's a problem with a project at work.

Common ground

Should you use a grinning face—😄—in that Slack message to soften the blow, or an angry face—😠—to show your distress?

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Workplace Communication Norms story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that However, sending that same negative message with no emoji still outperformed the congruent but angry version?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-04-emoji-colleagues.html

analyticsAnalysis

10%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 95%

Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 60% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 14 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 6

schedule Pending 4

info Single Source 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

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Claim 1: “However, sending that same negative message with no emoji still outperformed the congruent but angry version.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 2: “Instant messaging now dominates workplace communication, with 91% of businesses using two or more chat platforms.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The web search results discuss the general use and benefits of instant messaging in the workplace, but none of the provided sources confirm the specific statistic that '91% of businesses use two or more chat platforms.'

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Social media are new media technologies that facilitate the creation, sharing and aggregation of content (such as ideas, interests, and other forms of expression) amongst virtual communities and netwo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Aberdeen is an international marketing intelligence company. Aberdeen's headquarters is based in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States, with an additional US office location in Wilton, CT, as well as …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdeen_Strategy_and_Research

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Microsoft Bing (also known simply as Bing) is a search engine owned and operated by Microsoft, and developed by Microsoft AI. The service traces its roots back to Microsoft's earlier search engines, i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Bing

+ 3 more evidence sources

help

Claim 3: “Notably, an angry face 😠 paired with a negative message fared better than one tacked onto a positive or neutral one.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results or cross-references to evaluate this specific claim regarding the comparison of an angry face emoji (😠) paired with negative vs. positive/neutral messages.

help

Claim 4: “A grinning face 😀 attached to 'Someone broke the printer again' came across as less competent and less appropriate than either a negative emoji or no emoji at all.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results or cross-references to evaluate this specific claim regarding the combination of a grinning face emoji (😀) with the phrase 'Someone broke the printer again' and comparing it to other emoji/no emoji options.

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Claim 5: “The messages varied on three dimensions: the emotional tone (positive, negative or neutral), the emoji attached (a grinning face 😀, an angry face 😠 or none) and whether the sender was described as a woman or a man.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results describe the study's variables, confirming that the messages varied based on emotional tone (positive, negative, or neutral), attached emoji (😀, 😠, or none), and sender gender (woman or man).

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The messages varied on three dimensions: the emotional tone (positive, negative or neutral), the emoji attached (a grinning face 😀, an angry face 😠 or none) and whether the sender was described as a w…
https://phys.org/news/2026-04-emoji-colleagues.html

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web search NEUTRAL — As instant messaging in the workplace continues to grow in popularity, make sure you’re aware of the rules for professional IM interaction. By following these IM dos and don’ts, you’ll be a real IM pr…
https://www.emazzanti.net/7-instant-messaging-rules-for-the-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Current perceptions of Instant Messaging (IM) use are based primarily on self-report studies.This study mainly employed naturally-occurring data by collecting the authentic discourse of instant messag…
https://www.academia.edu/8190919/Humor_small_talk_and_the_co…

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Claim 6: “My recent study, conducted with colleagues at the University of Ottawa and published in Collabra: Psychology, reveals that emoji choice matters.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results cite a study from the University of Ottawa published in Collabra: Psychology regarding how emoji choice impacts perceptions of competence and appropriateness in workplace communication.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In a study appearing in Collabra: Psychology, researchers from the University of Ottawa have examined how emojis impact perceptions of competence and appropriateness for those who utilize them in prof…
https://phys.org/news/2026-04-emojis-workplace-communication…

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web search NEUTRAL — Researchers from the University of Ottawa examined how emojis impact perceptions of competence and appropriateness for those who utilize them in professional settings. For this small-scale study, part…
https://www.uottawa.ca/about-us/news-all/should-emojis-be-us…

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web search NEUTRAL — The study also says women taking part in the study “perceived negative emojis sent by women senders more negatively than those sent by men.” Lead author Erin L. Courtice says the study shows you shoul…
https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/should-you-add-an-angr…

schedule

Claim 7: “For appropriateness, we found a small but significant effect: women rated negative emojis from women senders as less appropriate than men did.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 8: “On the other hand, when the sender added a 😠, competence and appropriateness ratings dropped.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that adding an angry face emoji (😠) caused competence and appropriateness ratings to drop.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Add a grinning face emoji to a negative message, and you may come across as passive-aggressive or insincere. (Unsplash/Arlington Research). No emoji is often the safest bet.On the other hand, when the…
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/emoji-determine-competent-colleagu…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Angry face emojis consistently lowered how competent and professional a sender appeared, regardless of what the message actually said. Positive emojis helped perceptions when paired with positive or n…
https://studyfinds.com/work-emojis-harm-reputation/

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web search NEUTRAL — Adding an angry face or a similar negative emoji to a workplace email or text message are “considered inappropriate” for professional communications, as they make the sender “seem less competent,” acc…
https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/should-you-add-an-angr…

schedule

Claim 9: “For negative messages, emojis that fit the emotional tone of the text don't really help. Those that clash actively hurt.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 10: “When the sender added a 😀 to either message, the ratings held steady.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results indicate that adding a grinning face emoji (😀) did not significantly change the competence or appropriateness ratings, suggesting the ratings held steady.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Add a grinning face emoji to a negative message, and you may come across as passive-aggressive or insincere. (Unsplash/Arlington Research). No emoji is often the safest bet. Overall, messages with no …
https://theconversation.com/how-emoji-use-at-work-can-determ…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The 😀 (smiley face) emoji seems pretty straightforward—just look at the grin on that little face! But what about 😆? Or 😊? And what the heck is the 🙃 (upside down face) emoji trying to say? If you’re c…
https://www.wikihow.com/Smiley-Face-Emoji-Meaning

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web search NEUTRAL — 😀 Grinning Face Emoji Emoji Meaning A yellow face with simple, open...
https://emojipedia.org/grinning-face

schedule

Claim 11: “For competence, they [gender] didn't [change the ratings]—which is notable given evidence that women are judged more harshly for expressing negative emotion in face-to-face workplace settings.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 12: “This finding was remarkably consistent: across positive, neutral and negative sentence content, the no-emoji version was either the top-rated option or statistically tied for first place.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that the no-emoji version was consistently rated as the top option or tied for first place across positive, neutral, and negative sentence content.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — This finding was remarkably consistent: across positive, neutral and negative sentence content, the no-emoji version was either the top-rated option or statistically tied for first place. Match emoji …
https://theconversation.com/how-emoji-use-at-work-can-determ…

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web search NEUTRAL — No-emoji version: This version contained the same subject lines as the emoji version, but the emojis were removed.The no-emoji version of the big-box inbox. Procedure. Participants were shown 2 inboxe…
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/emojis-email/

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web search NEUTRAL — cocoktanamabg.baby is an online platform created to link you to the realm of viral content. From funny videos to current news, to popular lifestyle advice, you'll discover everything here. Featuring a…
https://cocoktanamabg.baby/top-10-tutorial-wiwik-lc-karaoke-…

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Claim 13: “Overall, messages with no emoji received the highest ratings for competence and appropriateness.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results state that messages with no emoji received the highest ratings for competence and appropriateness.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Overalls were originally made of denim, but they can also be made of other materials such as corduroy, chino cloth, or leather. Overalls were invented in the mid to late 1890s by Grace Howard and Jaco…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overalls

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web search NEUTRAL — The meaning of OVERALL is all over. How to use overall in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overall

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web search NEUTRAL — OVERALL definition: 1. in general rather than in particular, or including all the people or things in a particular…. Learn more.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/overall

info

Claim 14: “We asked 243 research participants to read short workplace instant messages from a hypothetical co-worker.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence confirms that research studies exist regarding workplace instant messaging, but none of the provided sources confirm the specific methodology detail that '243 research participants were asked to read short workplace instant messages from a hypothetical co-worker.' The number 243 appears in unrelated Wikipedia entries.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The .243 Winchester (6×52mm) is a popular sporting rifle cartridge. Developed as a versatile short action cartridge to hunt both medium game and small game alike, it "took whitetail hunting by storm" …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.243_Winchester

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Year 243 (CCXLIII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known in Rome as the Year of the Consulship of Arrianus and Papus (or, less frequently, year 996 Ab …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/243

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Flight 243 may refer to: Listed chronologically Aloha Airlines Flight 243, suffered an explosive decompression on 28 April 1988 Windjet Flight 243, landed short of runway on 24 September 2010 RusAir …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_243

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.