June 18, 2026
Dr. Ruth Oji
Imagine sitting in on a virtual meeting where twelve people had their cameras off. The presenter kept asking questions into what felt like a void. No one responded. No reactions. No acknowledgment. Just silence. Then someone typed “??” – a thumbs-up emoji – in the chat. That single emoji changed the entire energy of the room. Suddenly the presenter knew someone was listening. Others started reacting too. The meeting became a conversation instead of a monologue into darkness.
From watching hundreds of virtual meetings, online classes, and group chats over the past few years I’ve noticed that engagement doesn’t require being perfectly visible or always on camera. It requires intentional, considerate communication. When we refer to virtual courtesy, we don’t mean your performing presence. We mean being present—and letting people know you are.
The Emoji Is Not Trivial
