{"id":299,"date":"2026-05-22T13:27:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T17:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.web.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/?p=299"},"modified":"2026-06-22T15:28:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T19:28:51","slug":"using-emojis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/using-emojis\/","title":{"rendered":"Guiding Principals for Using Emojis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">Guiding Principles for Using Emojis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Emojis&nbsp;\ud83c\udf89&nbsp;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">What Are Emojis?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before&nbsp;emojis, there were emoticons like&nbsp;&#8220;:-)&#8221;&nbsp;or :-P.&nbsp;Emojis&nbsp;are graphic symbols&nbsp;with&nbsp;built-in alt text that help convey emotions, ideas, or reactions. They\u2019re used everywhere \u2013 from websites and emails to texts and tweets. However, their visual nature doesn\u2019t always translate well across all platforms, especially for users&nbsp;with&nbsp;visual impairments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">Emojis&nbsp;Are&nbsp;<em>Not<\/em>&nbsp;a Substitute for Text<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Emojis&nbsp;should complement your message, not replace it. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A&nbsp;<strong>\u201cLike\u201d<\/strong>&nbsp;button should be labeled&nbsp;with&nbsp;the word \u201cLike,\u201d not just a&nbsp;\ud83d\udc4d emoji.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Replacing a \u201cDownload\u201d link&nbsp;with&nbsp;just an \u2b07\ufe0f icon can be unclear, especially to screen reader users who might only hear \u201cDownwards white arrow.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you string together several&nbsp;emojis&nbsp;in a row, a screen reader will announce&nbsp;<strong><em>every<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;one, interrupting the flow of content and potentially overwhelming the listener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">Watch It In Action<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This 30-second video shows how&nbsp;emoji-heavy content sounds to a screen reader user.&nbsp;<em>Spoiler: it\u2019s not great.<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/u19717448.ct.sendgrid.net\/ls\/click?upn=u001.u2kf5KCHxRa-2FVSQfBaZdl4Uej8Oy6piRQwgbf899f6ujhzTRKeJa-2FmEQjuWGdfuwfvaw0E56gZpeGRlC9OtFfA-3D-3D9odj_vd5Cfk0-2FvvhH2UhG8Nnfe795PEyDUpGXkjcpiKpwPByU0c5f7SsiefVSa0CbuWRrgknscZ5RlOSuQdvX7yBknV4-2FyRNMWrTm1ozERh9Do70GvNQeEsGfP7UVHZg85wjeC7L6PZWyBWeYhcPhWGhf-2BXVlxgI0QcCrpyOtgSnVtk5VrqPYIxrW7cAU7g9mvlAyu914pxTVgEbNA9aA8One4UKQNkbuDD6cqoPjyD4puXinpgGcA5UQv-2BqXzBoS-2BjqZn1bjts8UoTZYkx206q1ZTRJb5qcHwTMQ2GpiCmn3AYbn9TqlspJdazGCZhBOfsa8lQuoHVf-2Bkb1BMEQS05-2BXBDdR63HRB9TI0RfAqkAQAxx8GpbwZqoGm6D5Ra-2BjcnQSD12nLRKODOaVMOn-2FoPEfzab-2FuVP3WhHAV-2BWxpw1HBX0WPmBy6I2Xvls63NrvPwGj75H9-2FCCQo5u3JlqANCrzwvE9ZrqBFyDS15JR3AihKwVRJhOEW7jWwY5kNRSbIE36n5lJ8-2BQ-2BNP8qm7rw-2FBzWt9fInhDCNGyASsQevN4PE879nxzlxisowuxrX4G2qq5MgNfOdqLZVwdUUpGcLieS-2FMgqJQQZnrZ5Lq2rgjLTPT85wDG-2FuiOEePqRNq9Pk1PqznVV7-2BEU2k57KgbeyYug2UWi7Jgi6uvvTLsQHcsUL2o4nRvrwd4-2BGYRkRduDsj-2B-2B0qmcSWozM8KCiO64FwCRoNPmI8sA5XT8moBpEjuG0MK2WVBY5Juf0zoQMVHLfiWCS9ZIIsISxFPqMKFBvRcSzOf34Tj6R0gXUg-2Bs5nCXc-2BRsEFPsbVDoGucMBNqUq3f3voZzz80lEzjYwgkquVmN5ySw6pV93mcZ-2BMDe7TjBgJihYYmkSyID7zFTSK6uUno9yMohk7UGkAMlAUyw3W4PAUqP15BinYnrDkaIiKcMtwlBIevLPWohA7F-2FimN-2FUQI2FxPlj66KywmjAcbFE7G2btFdPbGIEU-2FQckrCv86eGvfeKMFaCeUKLnkJXQZ5ntIAaTuYyOAF6CGB4K4XhM1luOCCgPJ-2BiTlNzWxbPiX9BEIKZWUxsMN4-2BgKmR8yEijqvssL4haGb9oXQ22zU0cmPZE3ig5ODObvnGufcVHBNnh4qpZCybDKHS2kD60q93V-2B7p1W0nW1bpcxnC2uroMP-2FD4L-2BhGmIHjwNs-2FP66EQY5WlLUynYWFQLlAuP6ioCon-2BCivlfIwKF53aQaScqWznsT1hZBmm-2Bs2GKrZUAfGxrDFmlncQsoFYhhwVCpL4WEZ98QGxz64sC8dhvBxZogQ8LyqBzLEN8OUsxsCWXYl1cIqbxNurHuYF-2F0z9CuX9ysOMSzhGdQzZh1NdtHI3JwHyQv43uhe483u1XomM-2B-2FtZDXXiYM-2BoY8ZJZ2AzoDISxRtfqKS8Au6Z136olexT55cC38tsIm8dTVW3RuvCgf7fkPVNBdHQWjTLgiJ2cCx5tkRFjKGq26o-2F7EY1MWOc5r4GT16Gpfk8e4z4Y9UsZlWckvzG2Lz68WdLr9RA9JAZt7K0YrZGq52BWYuG4Z0yyt52uWLJYKMtN5HLKcBGpmn-2B0p3FTvNHKcSZgywj-2BfrYOJAhgPLR1SvA7c17QyKr3CmloV9BtsrbeDCUZHzDDKpZ9ObSU7jii-2FmQPt-2BHK2gwisV1rDS5O8qKI0Jdt2Oqvg-2Bm4CdM-2B8h9B7YOUAw7aKdubgT5IFWFDZOmkvjF7QmWUWCSVUE4zUnkoS9zsMraj8bh52dNaHQRYBH-2F1MkW7SctFHqA-3D\" 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href=\"https:\/\/u19717448.ct.sendgrid.net\/ls\/click?upn=u001.u2kf5KCHxRa-2FVSQfBaZdl4Uej8Oy6piRQwgbf899f6ujhzTRKeJa-2FmEQjuWGdfuwfvaw0E56gZpeGRlC9OtFfA-3D-3D9odj_vd5Cfk0-2FvvhH2UhG8Nnfe795PEyDUpGXkjcpiKpwPByU0c5f7SsiefVSa0CbuWRrgknscZ5RlOSuQdvX7yBknV4-2FyRNMWrTm1ozERh9Do70GvNQeEsGfP7UVHZg85wjeC7L6PZWyBWeYhcPhWGhf-2BXVlxgI0QcCrpyOtgSnVtk5VrqPYIxrW7cAU7g9mvlAyu914pxTVgEbNA9aA8One4UKQNkbuDD6cqoPjyD4puXinpgGcA5UQv-2BqXzBoS-2BjqZn1bjts8UoTZYkx206q1ZTRJb5qcHwTMQ2GpiCmn3AYbn9TqlspJdazGCZhBOfsa8lQuoHVf-2Bkb1BMEQS05-2BXBDdR63HRB9TI0RfAqkAQAxx8GpbwZqoGm6D5Ra-2BjcnQSD12nLRKODOaVMOn-2FoPEfzab-2FuVP3WhHAV-2BWxpw1HBX0WPmBy6I2Xvls63NrvPwGj75H9-2FCCQo5u3JlqANCrzwvE9ZrqBFyDS15JR3AihKwVRJhOEW7jWwY5kNRSbIE36n5lJ8-2BQ-2BNP8qm7rw-2FBzWt9fInhDCNGyASsQevN4PE879nxzlxisowuxrX4G2qq5MgNfOdqLZVwdUUpGcLieS-2FMgqJQQZnrZ5Lq2rgjLTPT85wDG-2FuiOEePqRNq9Pk1PqznVV7-2BEU2k57KgbeyYug2UWi7Jgi6uvvTLsQHcsUL2o4nRvrwd4-2BGYRkRduDsj-2B-2B0qmcSWozM8KCiO64FwCRoNPmI8sA5XT8moBpEjuG0MK2WVBY5Juf0zoQMVHLfiWCS9ZIIsISxFPqMKFBvRcSzOf34Tj6R0gXUg-2Bs5nCXc-2BRsEFPsbVDoGucMBNqUq3f3voZzz80lEzjYwgkquVmN5ySw6pV93mcZ-2BMDe7TjBgJihYYmkSyID7zFTSK6uUno9yMohk7UGkAMlAUyw3W4PAUqP15BinYnrDkaIiKcMtwlBIevLPWohA7F-2FimN-2FUQI2FxPlj66KywmjAcbFE7G2btFdPbGIEU-2FQckrCv86eGvfeKMFaCeUKLnkJXQZ5ntIAaTuYyOAF6CGB4K4XhM1luOCCgPJ-2BiTlNzWxbPiX9BEIKZWUxsMN4-2BgKmR8yEijqvssL4haGb9oXQ22zU0cmPZE3ig5ODObvnGufcVHBNnh4qpZCybDKHS2kD60q93V-2B7p1W0nW1bpcxnC2uroMP-2FD4L-2BhGmIHjwNs-2FP66EQY5WlLUynYWFQLlAuP6ioCon-2BCivlfIwKF53aQaScqWznsT1hZBmm-2Bs2GKrZUAfGxrDFmlncQsoFYhhwVCpL4WEZ98QGxz64sC8dhvBxZogQ8LyqBzLEN8OUsxsCWXYl1cIqbxNurHuYF-2F0z9CuX9ysOMSzhGdQzZh1NdtHI3JwHyQv43uhe483u1XomM-2B-2FtZDXXiYM-2BoY8ZJZ2AzoDISxRtfqKS8Au6Z136olexT55cC38tsIm8dTVW3RuvCgf7fkPVNBdHQWjTLgiJ2cCx5tkRFjKGq26o-2F7EY1MWOc5r4GT16Gpfk8e4z4Y9UsZlWckvzG2Lz68WdLr9RA9JAZt7K0YrZGq52BWYuG4Z0yyt52uWLJYKMtN5HLKcBGpmn-2B0p3FTvNHKcSZgywj-2BfrYOJAhgPLR1SvA7c17QyKr3CmloV9BtsrbeDCUZHzDDKpZ9ObSU7jii-2FmQPt-2BHK2gwisV1rDS5O8qKI0Jdt2Oqvg-2Bm4CdM-2B8h9B7YOUAw7aKdubgT5IFWFDZOmkvjF7QmWUWCSVUE4zUnkoS9zsMraj8bh52dNaHQRYBH-2F1MkW7SctFHqA-3D\" 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href=\"https:\/\/u19717448.ct.sendgrid.net\/ls\/click?upn=u001.u2kf5KCHxRa-2FVSQfBaZdl4Uej8Oy6piRQwgbf899f6ujhzTRKeJa-2FmEQjuWGdfuwfvaw0E56gZpeGRlC9OtFfA-3D-3D9odj_vd5Cfk0-2FvvhH2UhG8Nnfe795PEyDUpGXkjcpiKpwPByU0c5f7SsiefVSa0CbuWRrgknscZ5RlOSuQdvX7yBknV4-2FyRNMWrTm1ozERh9Do70GvNQeEsGfP7UVHZg85wjeC7L6PZWyBWeYhcPhWGhf-2BXVlxgI0QcCrpyOtgSnVtk5VrqPYIxrW7cAU7g9mvlAyu914pxTVgEbNA9aA8One4UKQNkbuDD6cqoPjyD4puXinpgGcA5UQv-2BqXzBoS-2BjqZn1bjts8UoTZYkx206q1ZTRJb5qcHwTMQ2GpiCmn3AYbn9TqlspJdazGCZhBOfsa8lQuoHVf-2Bkb1BMEQS05-2BXBDdR63HRB9TI0RfAqkAQAxx8GpbwZqoGm6D5Ra-2BjcnQSD12nLRKODOaVMOn-2FoPEfzab-2FuVP3WhHAV-2BWxpw1HBX0WPmBy6I2Xvls63NrvPwGj75H9-2FCCQo5u3JlqANCrzwvE9ZrqBFyDS15JR3AihKwVRJhOEW7jWwY5kNRSbIE36n5lJ8-2BQ-2BNP8qm7rw-2FBzWt9fInhDCNGyASsQevN4PE879nxzlxisowuxrX4G2qq5MgNfOdqLZVwdUUpGcLieS-2FMgqJQQZnrZ5Lq2rgjLTPT85wDG-2FuiOEePqRNq9Pk1PqznVV7-2BEU2k57KgbeyYug2UWi7Jgi6uvvTLsQHcsUL2o4nRvrwd4-2BGYRkRduDsj-2B-2B0qmcSWozM8KCiO64FwCRoNPmI8sA5XT8moBpEjuG0MK2WVBY5Juf0zoQMVHLfiWCS9ZIIsISxFPqMKFBvRcSzOf34Tj6R0gXUg-2Bs5nCXc-2BRsEFPsbVDoGucMBNqUq3f3voZzz80lEzjYwgkquVmN5ySw6pV93mcZ-2BMDe7TjBgJihYYmkSyID7zFTSK6uUno9yMohk7UGkAMlAUyw3W4PAUqP15BinYnrDkaIiKcMtwlBIevLPWohA7F-2FimN-2FUQI2FxPlj66KywmjAcbFE7G2btFdPbGIEU-2FQckrCv86eGvfeKMFaCeUKLnkJXQZ5ntIAaTuYyOAF6CGB4K4XhM1luOCCgPJ-2BiTlNzWxbPiX9BEIKZWUxsMN4-2BgKmR8yEijqvssL4haGb9oXQ22zU0cmPZE3ig5ODObvnGufcVHBNnh4qpZCybDKHS2kD60q93V-2B7p1W0nW1bpcxnC2uroMP-2FD4L-2BhGmIHjwNs-2FP66EQY5WlLUynYWFQLlAuP6ioCon-2BCivlfIwKF53aQaScqWznsT1hZBmm-2Bs2GKrZUAfGxrDFmlncQsoFYhhwVCpL4WEZ98QGxz64sC8dhvBxZogQ8LyqBzLEN8OUsxsCWXYl1cIqbxNurHuYF-2F0z9CuX9ysOMSzhGdQzZh1NdtHI3JwHyQv43uhe483u1XomM-2B-2FtZDXXiYM-2BoY8ZJZ2AzoDISxRtfqKS8Au6Z136olexT55cC38tsIm8dTVW3RuvCgf7fkPVNBdHQWjTLgiJ2cCx5tkRFjKGq26o-2F7EY1MWOc5r4GT16Gpfk8e4z4Y9UsZlWckvzG2Lz68WdLr9RA9JAZt7K0YrZGq52BWYuG4Z0yyt52uWLJYKMtN5HLKcBGpmn-2B0p3FTvNHKcSZgywj-2BfrYOJAhgPLR1SvA7c17QyKr3CmloV9BtsrbeDCUZHzDDKpZ9ObSU7jii-2FmQPt-2BHK2gwisV1rDS5O8qKI0Jdt2Oqvg-2Bm4CdM-2B8h9B7YOUAw7aKdubgT5IFWFDZOmkvjF7QmWUWCSVUE4zUnkoS9zsMraj8bh52dNaHQRYBH-2F1MkW7SctFHqA-3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Testing emojis with screen-reader - please use emoji icons sparely, they add a lot of &quot;noise&quot;\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0XJBIUH_o4w?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">Emoji Best Practices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To make your content both fun and accessible, keep these tips in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use emojis sparingly as visual accents, not main content<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Always pair emojis with text that clearly describes the action or message<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use common, familiar emojis that are likely to be understood and supported across devices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check the alt text (what a screen reader will read aloud) before including one. Some can be surprisingly long!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Place emojis at the end of a sentence rather than in the middle to avoid interrupting screen reader flow<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be mindful of contrast. Some emojis don\u2019t stand out on light or dark backgrounds<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Skin tone variants add extra detail to the alt text (e.g., \u201cwaving hand: medium skin tone\u201d), which lengthens what\u2019s read aloud<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Remember:<\/strong>&nbsp;emojis&nbsp;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\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">Avoid \u201cAI-style\u201d Formatting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For accessibility and professionalism:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Limit emojis to occasional emphasis rather than repeated patterns<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid using emojis as substitutes for headings, bullets, or structure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure content remains clear, readable, and well-organized without relying on visual decoration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well-structured text should stand on its own. Emojis should enhance meaning, not carry it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Emojis&nbsp;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&nbsp;with&nbsp;words, and let&nbsp;emojis&nbsp;play a supporting role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks for helping keep our digital spaces fun&nbsp;<em>and<\/em>&nbsp;inclusive!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Guiding Principles for Using Emojis Emojis&nbsp;\ud83c\udf89&nbsp;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&nbsp;emojis, there were emoticons [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"featured_media_global":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=299"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":385,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299\/revisions\/385"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}