🫸
Rightwards Pushing Hand
raɪt-wərdz pʊʃ-ɪŋ hænd
Definitions
1
Gestures · Movement
Common
A hand gesture indicating pushing, offering, or directing something to the right. Used to suggest movement, transition, or passing something to someone else.
Often used in sequences to show movement or direction, or to indicate offering something to another person.
Here's that playlist I promised you 🫸
Messaging apps
Just move it to the side 🫸 and you'll see the hidden menu
Instructional message
Part of a set of directional hand emojis introduced in 2022, representing physical gestures that have become important in digital communication.
2
Communication · Emphasis
Common
Used to emphasize a point or direct attention to content that follows. Functions as a visual pointer or indicator in digital conversations.
Particularly effective when wanting to highlight information or direct someone's focus.
Important announcement 🫸 Meeting canceled for tomorrow
Group chat
Reflects how physical gestures have been adapted for digital communication to maintain conversational nuance.
Evolution Timeline
2022
Introduction in Unicode 14.0 as part of a set of hand gesture emojis, filling gaps in directional gestures.
Growing need for expressive hand gestures in digital communication.
2023
Gained popularity in instructional content and tutorials across social media platforms.
Rise of short-form tutorial content on TikTok and Instagram.
Cultural Context
Part of the evolution of digital body language, where physical gestures are translated into emoji form to maintain expressive communication in text-based platforms.
Reflects how directional gestures remain important in human communication, even as we shift to digital spaces where physical pointing isn't possible.
Functions as a deictic marker in digital communication, pointing to content that follows or directing attention in a specific direction.
Regional Variations
United Kingdom
Used more formally than in the US, often in instructional contexts or when politely offering assistance.
United States
Often used casually in social media to indicate sharing or passing information, particularly among younger users.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Used more sparingly and typically in practical contexts like giving directions or instructions rather than for emphasis.
Gen_Z: Frequently used in casual contexts to share recommendations or direct attention to content. Common on TikTok and Instagram.
Older: Less frequently used; when employed, typically for practical purposes in family communications or instructions.
Millennials: Often used in work contexts for giving instructions or in personal chats when sharing information or recommendations.
Common Combinations
🫸📱
Offering or showing someone a phone or digital content.
Used when sharing digital information or showing something on a device.
🫸🫷
Exchange, back-and-forth interaction, or conversation.
Represents reciprocal actions or dialogue between people.
🫸💡
Offering an idea or suggestion.
Used to present a thought or solution to a problem.
🫸👀
Directing attention to something worth looking at.
Used to highlight important information or interesting content.