Adële's blog

The charm of ASCII smileys :-)

2025-07-19 13:00

Nowadays, it's easy to forget about ASCII smileys. These simple text faces were the first way to show feelings online. They have a special place in the history of the internet and in my heart.

A bit of history

The story of ASCII smileys starts in the early 1980s. Back then, the internet was just beginning, and people mostly communicated through text. Scott Fahlman, a computer scientist, had an idea. He suggested using :-) for jokes and :-( for serious comments. This small idea changed how we talk online forever.

Simple and for everyone

ASCII smileys are wonderfully simple. Unlike today's emojis, they look the same no matter where you see them. In an email or a text message, they always look familiar. This makes them a reliable way to share feelings.

But their simplicity is deceptive. With just a few keystrokes, you can make many different expressions. Some examples for youngest readers:

These little combinations let us express a lot, even in plain text.

A touch of nostalgia

For those of us who remember the early days of the internet, ASCII smileys bring back memories. They remind us of simpler times, of chat rooms and the first social media sites.

Using ASCII smileys today can be a fun way to remember the past. It connects us with others who share those memories. It's a small way to celebrate how digital communication has evolved.

A spark of creativity

ASCII smileys also encourage creativity. With just a few characters, you can make unique faces. This adds a personal touch to your messages. For example, ^_^ can show a playful tone, and :-| can show indifference.

This creativity can be fun. Challenge your friends to make their own smileys. Use them to add a personal touch to your messages. I like and often use ^^. I remember a friend using o_0 because of his asymmetrical face caused by a childhood illness, we knew it was him when we read the forum posts!

Why they still matter

Even with all the new emojis, ASCII smileys are still around. They are used in emails, texts, and forums. Their appeal is in their simplicity and universality.

ASCII smileys are a nice return to basics. They remind us that simple things can be very effective. They also allow us to send plain text emails without worrying about compatibility issues.

So next time you write a message, think about adding an ASCII smiley. It's a small way to connect with the past and add a bit of personality to your words.

Let's talk about them on the Fediverse