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Using Emojis

Guiding Principles for Using Emojis

Emojis 🎉 have become a fun and expressive part of digital communication from social media posts to casual emails. However, when it comes to accessibility, especially for users who rely on screen readers, emojis can sometimes do more harm than good if not used thoughtfully.

What Are Emojis?

Before emojis, there were emoticons like 🙂 or :-P. Emojis are graphic symbols with built-in alt text that help convey emotions, ideas, or reactions. They’re used everywhere – from websites and emails to texts and tweets. However, their visual nature doesn’t always translate well across all platforms, especially for users with visual impairments.

Emojis Are Not a Substitute for Text

Emojis should complement your message, not replace it. For example:

  • A “Like” button should be labeled with the word “Like,” not just a 👍 emoji.
  • Replacing a “Download” link with just a ⬇️ icon can be unclear, especially to screen reader users who might only hear “Downwards black arrow.”

If you string together several emojis in a row, a screen reader will announce every one, interrupting the flow of content and potentially overwhelming the listener.

Watch It In Action

This 30-second video shows how emoji-heavy content sounds to a screen reader user. Spoiler: it’s not great. 

Emoji Best Practices

To make your content both fun and accessible, keep these tips in mind:

  • Use emojis sparingly as visual accents, not main content
  • Always pair emojis with text that clearly describes the action or message
  • Use common, familiar emojis that are likely to be understood and supported across devices
  • Check the alt text (what a screen reader will read aloud) before including one. Some can be surprisingly long!
  • Place emojis at the end of a sentence rather than in the middle to avoid interrupting screen reader flow
  • Be mindful of contrast. Some emojis don’t stand out on light or dark backgrounds
  • Skin tone variants add extra detail to the alt text (e.g., “waving hand: medium skin tone”), which lengthens what’s read aloud

Remember: emojis may render differently or be unsupported depending on the device or platform. What looks cheerful on your screen might appear confusing (or not at all) on someone else’s.

Avoid “AI-style” Formatting

While emojis can enhance content, overusing them, especially as section dividers or bullet replacements, can reduce clarity and credibility. Heavy emoji use is also increasingly recognized as a hallmark of AI-generated content, particularly when used to structure or segment information (e.g., starting every line or heading with an emoji).

For accessibility and professionalism:

  • Limit emojis to occasional emphasis rather than repeated patterns
  • Avoid using emojis as substitutes for headings, bullets, or structure
  • Ensure content remains clear, readable, and well-organized without relying on visual decoration

Well-structured text should stand on its own. Emojis should enhance meaning, not carry it.

Final Thoughts

Emojis can be a great way to add personality to your content. However, like anything else in communication, clarity and accessibility come first. When in doubt, lead with words, and let emojis play a supporting role.

Thanks for helping keep our digital spaces fun and inclusive!