Whether in
texts to your friends or
on Slack at work, you probably don't think
too much about
which emojis you use the most during the day. But it turns out that those silly little icons say more about you than you think. (Yes, even the unicorn one.)
When Fast Company teamed with the personality scientists at Traitify, they found using certain emojis can unleash intel about your character, like your personality and even your leadership style. Two Fast Company editors took Traitify's two-minute Big Five test to examine the personality traits of openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and extraversion. The scientists then compared those personality traits with their most-used emojis and identified some telling correlations.
Frequently using the "thumbs-up" and "heart" emojis means you're a highly agreeable and positive person. Using emojis like the "lightning bolt" and "rocket" align with doing well in a fast-paced environment.
According to Traitify’s chief psychology officer, Heather Myers, frequently using the "thumbs-up" and "heart" emojis means you're a highly agreeable and positive person. Using emojis like the "lightning bolt" and "rocket" align with doing well in a fast-paced environment, while "praise hands," "thumbs-up," "100%," "check marks," and "clapping hands" can reflect your appreciation for your own and others' hard work and accomplishments.
Myers said the "hang loose" emoji is a great tell for those who are high on the emotional stability scale and can manage pressure, take things in stride, and cope with everyday challenges, since those individuals also tend to be more relaxed and easygoing. And in terms of being more extroverted or introverted, extroverts typically go for seemingly random emojis, like unicorns, while introverts mainly stick to literal options, like happy and sad faces—you catch the drift.
