"The uncomfortable valley is the effect one experiences when presented with some kind of image, and there's an uncomfortable gap between normal-looking and absolutely insane. Normal-looking is fine, like the classic typed emoji face (i.e., :), for the elderly and otherwise uninitiated). Insane-looking, like the Pixar Minions, is also fine, because the face is so weird you've accepted there's something purposely ironic, strange, or otherworldly being presented to you."
"What's not fine is something that is super close to, but hasn't passed the threshold of, being totally wacky, leaving you stuck wondering whether what you've sent is actually weird or if you're just overthinking it."
The uncomfortable valley is a phenomenon distinct from the uncanny valley, occurring when visual representations occupy an awkward middle ground between normal-looking and intentionally bizarre. While normal appearances and fully absurd designs are acceptable, images that approach but fail to cross into complete weirdness create discomfort. Microsoft Teams emoji reactions exemplify this problem, particularly the tongue-out emoji, which animates in unsettling ways that seem almost but not quite intentionally strange. Unlike simpler alternatives like Slack's static emoji or traditional text emoticons, Teams' animated reactions leave viewers uncertain whether the design is genuinely odd or if they are overthinking it, creating an uncomfortable experience.
Read at Fast Company
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