Technology & Innovation

First Documented Emoticons Posted Online

Scott Fahlman, a computer scientist at Carnegie Mellon University, shared two symbols on the university's bulletin board system to denote humor and sadness - :-), for a light-hearted message, and :-(, for a serious one. This simple yet ingenious innovation aimed to enhance online communication, allowing users to convey emotional context in the largely text-based interactions of digital conversations. Fahlman's post sparked a transformation in communication style, marking the beginning of emoticons as a fundamental part of online discourse.

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