In the further decline of modern culture, an emoji has officially been announced as Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year. But not just any emoji, specifically the “face with tears of joy” emoji. Beating out the stiff competition of “lumbersexual,” “on fleek,” and “dark web,” our modern hieroglyphics have been further legitimized by crusty academics. Considering the past entries of “vape” and “selfie,” this doesn’t seem too far off the current path of language, but it’s a little discouraging all the same.
Whether we wanted to admit it to ourselves, we knew this was coming. Everyone uses them, from ironic hipsters, cool teens, and moms across the nation. Emojis have so deeply inundated communication and culture that this was the next logical step. And while they aren’t words by any stretch, that doesn’t mean they aren’t an accurate means of communication. I mean, one look at your “Frequently Used” section is pretty much the most on point representation of your inner psyche available.
However, this seems like it could be the beginning of the end for our ever-present shiny faces. By becoming so deeply entrenched in “the establishment,” does this mean that emojis are on the way out? It’s like memes on Facebook: as soon as your well-meaning but out-of-touch aunt is sharing them, the joke is dead.
(Via A.V. Club)