It is possible to download emoticons for Facebook to supplement what is natively supported its chat platform. The default emoticons available in Facebook itself are so few and so commonplace that users new to Facebook and its chat feature will be happy to discover that it is not only possible, but also quite easy to download emoticons from external sources and import it into the Facebook interface. Default Facebook Emoticons – No Download Required
The issue of being able to download emoticons for Facebook was a concern to users from the beginning and made more in demand with the launch of its chat feature. This is because when the feature was introduced, there were no available emoticons on the interface. At least there were no visible ones. As people got used to the chat interface, they discovered that Facebook did have emoticons. The only problem was that they were hidden and could only be accessed by typing the correct code for each icon. Working from emoticon codes from other messaging applications such as Yahoo Messenger and Skype, people experimented and discovered what no download emoticons can be used in Facebook without having to download emoticons from external sources.
There are 27 no download emoticons available in Facebook and they fall into five general categories. The first are emoticons that express happiness, joy or contentment, which includes the classic smiley :) or :-), grin :D, laughing eyes, >:O, cat smile :3, and the happy eyes or kiki ^_^ . The second category include emoticons that express sadness or anger such as the upset emoticon >:o, the grumpy emoticon >:-(, the sad face emoticon :( or:-(, and the crying emoticon :'(. The third category consists of shock, surprise, and disbelief emoticons: shocked :o or:-o or :O, duh :/ or :, and woot O.o. The fourth category includes the popular affectionate emoticons such as the kiss emoticon entered as * or :-* and the love emoticon entered as <3. In the last category are the emoticons used for teasing, which includes the wink - ;) or ;-), the cheeky emoticon, - :p or :-p, and the ones representing the devil - 3:) and an angel - O:). Although most of these are the simplest standard emoticons, they are convenient in that none of these requires users to download emoticons from third-party vendors, as they are available in Facebook itself.
Although these no download emoticons are pretty standard and are also available in other messaging applications, Facebook has customized them somewhat with slightly different versions and their special shortcut keys. Since the shortcut keys are intentionally simpler, many users have reported that they find the Facebook version easier to remember compared to the Yahoo messenger, MSN, and Skype versions. Aside from these basic no download emoticons, Facebook also has some fun emoticons available. Of these additional no download emoticons, the shark symbol, the penguin symbol and the Pacman symbol are the popular.
The lack of visible buttons and the plainness of these no download emoticons in Facebook is supposedly intentional. Their simplicity is said to be a reflection of their basic design principle of using a clean, simple interface without unnecessary bells and whistles. Adding smiley buttons for the native no download emoticons would go against this design principle because they would clutter the chat interface.
The Limitations of the Default Facebook Emoticons
Although the default no download emoticon are convenient in that they do not require any additional applications or downloads, many users find them lacking. First, they are very limited in number. Second, the designs are rather plain and pale in comparison when compared with the graphics and animation of smileys used in other messaging programs. Thirdly, since there are no buttons, users have to memorize the keyboard shortcuts for them or have to keep Googling them each time. Finally, they can only be used in the chat window instead of being available for use in status messages and wall posts. Of these, the biggest problem really is their limited number.
The problem with the limited number of no download emoticons available in Facebook is that many users find them too restricting. This is because internet users have gotten used to having a wide range of different emoticons to express their feelings. The truth is that users have been spoiled with the variety of graphic and audio elements available in other applications. For instance, Yahoo not only has more varied and more animated emoticons, it also has audibles, photo sharing and a host of other add-ons. Such features have allowed people not only to deliver exactly the meaning they intend, but also to do so with humor and style without the need to download emoticons to their instant messengers.
Many Facebook users find that they cannot do without the additional download emoticons offered by third-party vendors. Without access to a wide range of emoticons, electronic communication in the form of email, chatting, and blogging can prove to be cold and open to being misunderstood. The best thing about using emoticons is that they enable users to simulate face-to-face communication, which relies heavily on reading paralinguistic features such as a smile, a teasing tone of voice, a pleading look. In the same way, emoticons can significantly affect meaning. For instance, a terse imperative can easily be made more polite by a smiley and the harshness of even the most direct refusal can be made lighter by an apologetic emoticon. Since the no download emoticons in Facebook are so limited, this also limits the range of emotions that can be expressed.
Third-Party Emoticons Available for Download
Fortunately, Facebook allows users to download emoticons from third-party providers. Since Facebook itself is not keen on adding to their default no download emoticons, it is a good thing that their open platform supports third-party applications and content. This solution is a great way to work around the limited number of available Facebook emoticons. The good news is that there is a good number of websites that offer smileys for Facebook to download emoticons from. Most of these are designed to be browser extensions that require users to install the application before they can download emoticons for Facebook use.
These available for download emoticons offer a satisfying variety of emoticons in impressive designs. Aside from download emoticons for expressing feelings, icons and animations are also available for different holidays, events, themes, nationalities, interest groups and advocacies. Winks, sound effects and other animations are also widely available. In addition to the dizzying number of download emoticons available, these third-party downloads are also easier to use since they often come with a toolbar or menu where users can click the icon for the specific emoticon they want to use. Best of all, these download emoticons are not restricted to the chat application, but are also available for use in wall posts and status updates.
Downloading Caution
When choosing to download emoticons from third-party vendors, care must be taken that the applications are legitimate and does not contain anything harmful. This is especially true of free to download emoticons that might have malware, adware or other malicious components. Download emoticons for Facebook are offered in free and paid versions. Be a wise consumer and invest some time in doing a bit of research to find out which download emoticon offers are a good value. Often, the paid versions contain the very best and most elaborate emoticons, but even free versions are very good, especially when compared to the basic, no download emoticons proprietary to Facebook itself. The time invested in choosing a reputable vendor for download emoticons will be well worth the enjoyment of having access to quality emoticons for every conceivable need.
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