GmailThe Gmail service, with more than 2.5 billion users worldwide, is constantly evolving, despite the fact that when it was unveiled in 2004 it was initially considered an April Fool’s joke. Since then, it has not only dominated the e-mail sector, but has recently introduced a new feature that is changing the way we respond to emails: adding emoji reactions.
Google has officially announced the feature by describing it as a more expressive, direct and personalized way of interacting with emails. Gmail users can respond to messages not only in words, but also with images — such as a handshake emoji for thanks, a food emoji to vote for the next group dinner or a fireworks emoji to congratulate a partner.
Remarkably, Google has enabled the feature by default only for personal accounts. Organization administrators using Gmail via Google Workspace should activate it manually by going to Admin Console > Apps > Gmail > End User Access > Emoji reactions.
However, there are also some limitations: It is not possible to send emoji to emails coming from or sent to Google Groups lists.
By introducing this feature, Google seems to want to convey the spontaneity and expressiveness of emojis, elements that dominate chat apps such as WhatsApp or Messenger, to the most “official” space of professional and personal mail.
This change also reflects a broader shift in communication, where speed, immediacy and emotion matter more than extensive responses. Particularly for group tasks or simple affirmations, reactions with emoji can become the new “OK” of emails.
Google seems to be approaching the new feature wisely, giving administrators full control over its activation, and avoiding its adoption in more complex situations such as mailing lists. In addition, after removing ads from Gmail in 2016, the company appears to be investing more and more in improving user experience rather than revenue through content promotion.
The new emoji feature is another step towards modernization of the platform, which remains the most popular email system in the world.
