Emojis and Reactions: A Senior's Guide for iPhone & Android

Oct 5, 20242 min read

Updated: Feb 7

Free Tech Classes for Seniors at ANVCS.org

Learn to Use Emojis and Reactions in iMessage and Google Messenger

Want to make your text messages more expressive and engaging? Emojis and reactions are the perfect way to add personality and flair! AnewVista is here to guide you through using these features in both iMessage (for iPhone) and Google Messenger (for Android and iPhone).emojis-reactions-a-senior-s-guide-for-iphone-android

Emojis: Tiny Pictures Speak Volumes

Think of emojis as little pictures that represent feelings, objects, or ideas. A simple smiley face 😊 can show you're happy, a thumbs up 👍 shows you agree, and a birthday cake 🎂 is a great way to wish someone a happy birthday!

Here's how to use emojis on your phone:

Open your messaging app: Start a new message or open an existing conversation.
Find the emoji keyboard: Look for a smiley face icon near the space bar on your keyboard. Tap it to open the emoji keyboard.
Choose your emoji: Scroll through the many categories to find the perfect emoji.
Tap to send: Once you've found the emoji you want, tap it to add it to your message and send!

Reactions: Respond with a Tap

Reactions let you quickly respond to a message with an emoji. Instead of typing a reply, you can simply "react" with a thumbs up, a heart, or another emoji.

Here's how to add a reaction:

Open a conversation: Go to the conversation in your messaging app.
Tap and hold the message: Press and hold the message you want to react to.
Choose your reaction: A pop-up will appear with a selection of emojis. Tap the one you want to use.

Tips for Using Emojis and Reactions

Start with the basics: The most common emojis are smiley faces, hearts, and thumbs up/down.
Keep it simple: Too many emojis can be confusing.
Have fun! Emojis and reactions are a great way to add some personality to your text messages.