The Shrug Emoji, often affectionately referred to as the “Shruggie” or “Smugshrug,” originated from the creative mind of Caroline Eisenmann, a budding assistant working at a prominent literary agency in New York City. This innovative emoticon belongs to the category known as “kaomoji,” which translates to “face mark” in Japanese.
Caroline Eisenmann’s inspiration for crafting this distinctive emoji arose when she decided to personalize her OkCupid profile, an online dating platform renowned for its free services. With the aim of adding a touch of uniqueness to her digital persona, she embarked on the mission to create an expressive emoticon that could convey the ever-relatable nonchalant gesture of a shoulder shrug.
It’s worth noting that her quest for individuality faced an unexpected twist. When Caroline submitted her freshly minted Shruggie to OkCupid for consideration, it was met with rejection. This unforeseen setback serves as a testament to the quirky and unpredictable journey of internet culture, where an idea born out of personal expression can sometimes transcend its origins and become a ubiquitous symbol of indifference and uncertainty, widely employed in online conversations and social media, transcending its initial purpose.
It was supposed to be something “frivolous”, but “slightly melancholic.” So this smile was created, depicting an ironically smiling man, spreading with his arms.
How to type the Shrug Emoji ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ in two seconds flat.
Mac
1. Copy “¯\_(ツ)_/¯“
2. Go to System Preferences
3. Click Keyboard
4. Press Text
5. In the Replace box, type “shrug”
6. In the With box, paste “¯\_(ツ)_/¯“
iPhone
1. Copy “¯\_(ツ)_/¯“
2. Go to Settings
3. Press General
4. Tap Keyboard
5. Choose Text Replacement
6. Select the “+” button
7. In the Shortcut field, type “shrug”
8. In the Phrase field, paste “¯\_(ツ)_/¯“
Android
1. Copy “¯\_(ツ)_/¯“
2. Go to Settings
3. Press Language & Input
4. Tap For All Languages
5. Select the “+” button
6. In the Shortcut field, type “shrug”
7. In the Type a Word field, paste ”¯\_(ツ)_/¯”
Windows
Unfortunately, Windows doesn’t have an autocorrect feature.