WhatsApp emoji reactions: What are they, timeline and how they leave Telegram ‘way behind’ – Times of India

WhatsApp will now let users react with any emoji, not just its chosen six. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in a Facebook post. “We’re rolling out the ability to use any emoji as a reaction on WhatsApp,” he wrote. The announcement comes just days ahead of the World Emoji Day that is celebrated on July 17. WhatsApp has teamed up with the creators of World Emoji Day, Emojipedia, to explain some of the most hotly debated and newest emojis you can expect to see popping up in your chats, to save you having to ask what they mean.
When will new emojis roll out
The expanded emoji reactions feature has started rolling out. Since this is a server-side update, it will be available to all WhatsApp users in the coming weeks.
Gives WhatsApp edge over Telegram
With this wide array of emoji choices, WhatsApp gets an edge over its rival Telegram. The instant messaging app Telegram allows users to use 17 different emoji for reactions. For additional emoji reactions, users need to pay as they are available under Telegram Premium (the paid version of Telegram).
WhatsApp’s ready reckoner on popular emojis
Melting Face: It is a new and very popular emoji that’s often based in sarcasm. It can be used when you’re literally melting from the heat this summer (like the Hot Face) or when showing a sign of embarrassment, shame or even silliness – like the Upside Down Face. However you choose to use Melting Face, it’s bound to be a popular reaction this summer.
Blue Cap: The phrase ‘cap’ or ‘capping’, and the accompanying emoji is often used when someone is lying or being untruthful. If someone reacts to a message with this expression, it likely means they don’t believe it.
Skull commonly expresses figurative death, but today it is very often used to react to a particularly funny message i.e. “dying from laughter”. While it may look dark at first glance, it’s being intentionally used as an alternative to the likes of Tears of Joy and ROFL.
Loudly Crying: It may look negative at first glance, but these melodramatic emojis can be used to express extreme positive reactions: Loudly Crying being overwhelmed by joy or hilarity.
Pleading Face: It can be used in many ways as this emoji can indicate “puppy dog” eyes, as if pleading. It may also represent adoration or feeling touched by a loving gesture or message — reacting as an expression of thanks.
Eyes: This emoji is sometimes used to indicate some hidden meaning behind a message/content posted online; or ‘shifty eyes’ to convey suspicion or surprise.
Sparkles: While this emoji screams positivity and many use it to show support, love, and happiness, it’s also used by others when showing sarcasm and irony or even when exaggerating a word, message, or emotion.
Taking notes: It is often used in a funny way to show you are listening closely to someone’s message or “taking notes” on someone’s advice.