For decades, a thumbs-up was the universal sign of approval — simple, positive, and harmless. But now, Gen Z says it’s anything but friendly. Many young workers are calling the emoji “passive-aggressive” and even “rude.”
It started with a Reddit post from a new employee who admitted feeling uneasy every time a coworker reacted to a message with 👍. “It just feels cold,” they wrote. “Like someone saying ‘Whatever.’” Their confession struck a nerve online — and soon, an entire generation chimed in.
“For younger people, it’s used to be really passive-aggressive,” one 24-year-old explained. “At work, it feels dismissive — like they don’t care.”
To older generations, though, it’s baffling. Many Millennials and Boomers see the emoji as a quick, polite way to say “Got it.” Some say it’s efficient — not emotional. Others, like one Reddit user, argued, “You’re overthinking it. It’s a thumbs-up, not a personal attack.”
Still, linguists and emoji experts note that digital communication evolves fast. A simple symbol can take on new meaning across generations. What feels courteous to one group might seem cold or sarcastic to another. Even Emojipedia admits the emoji “can be construed as passive-aggressive or sarcastic.”
In the end, it’s a lesson in empathy — and translation. Whether it’s a 👍, ❤️, or 😊, tone doesn’t always travel well through screens. Sometimes, a word — or a real conversation — says it best.
