The Shrug Emoji: What It Means & How to Use It

Emojis have made digital communication so much fun! And one of the most used emojis is the shrug emoji. 

Uncertain, indifferent or just can’t find the words to explain something? The shrug emoji has you covered. In this post we’ll go over:

• What the shrug emoji means
• Its variations
• How to type it on different devices
• Some fun facts about it
• Bonus: How to use the shrug emoji in surveys

Click to jump to the section that you want. 

What Does the Shrug Emoji Mean?

The shrug emoji is a ‘not knowing’ or ‘not caring’ symbol. It’s used when you’re unsure about something, don’t have an opinion or just want to express indifference. The visual of a person raising their shoulders with hands open is the perfect representation of “I don’t know” or “It is what it is”.

People use the shrug emoji in all sorts of conversations – from casual chats with friends to work messages. It’s simple and says a lot without needing to type much. 

Shrug Emoji Variations

While the shrug emoji looks like one character, it actually comes in different forms. Depending on your device or platform you may see slight design, color and gender variations. Let’s break down the common types of shrug emojis:

Yellow Shrug Emoji: The most common shrug emoji is yellow and gender neutral which is the default on many devices. This is probably the one you see most often in your messages.

Shrug Emoji Man: Some platforms, like iPhones and Androids, allow you to use a male version of the shrug emoji, represented by a man shrugging 🤷‍♂️.

Shrug Emoji Woman: And there’s also a female version of the shrug emoji 🤷‍♀️ for those who prefer to personalize their emojis.

The variety allows you to choose which shrug emoji best represents you in the conversation. Plus it’s more inclusive!

How to Type the Shrug Emoji on Different Devices

Want to use the shrug emoji but don’t know how? Here’s a quick guide on how to use the shrug emoji on different devices and platforms:

On Mobile (iPhone and Android): Open the emoji keyboard and search for “shrug”. Tap the emoji to insert it into your message.

ASCII Shrug: Before emojis were a thing we used text symbols to express the shrugging gesture—in the good ol’ days of the QWERTY keyboard. Yup, I’m a 90’s kid. So, the classic ASCII shrug looks like this: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. To type this, you can copy and paste it from here or save it as a keyboard shortcut.

Slack Shrug Emoji: If you use Slack for work, typing :shrug: will turn into the shrug emoji. It’s a quick way to use it during conversations with your team!

Regardless of the device you’re using, adding the shrug emoji to your messages is easy and saves you from typing out long explanations.

Colored Shrug Emojis: Black, Blue, and More!

Did you know some platforms allow you to change the color of your emojis? While the default shrug emoji is yellow, you can also use different skin tone variations.

Black Shrug Emoji: Many platforms allow you to long press on the shrug emoji to select a darker skin tone and create the black shrug emoji 🤷🏿‍♂️/🤷🏿‍♀️.

Blue Shrug Emoji: Although the blue shrug emoji is not a standard color on devices, some apps or emoji packs might offer this option for fun.

Adding color to your emojis lets you personalize them, and make them feel more you in the conversation.

How to Use the Shrug Emoji in Slack

Emojis are not just for texting and social media anymore; they’ve made their way into professional tools, emails, and even surveys.

In professional settings like Slack, emojis are used to make work communication more fun and less formal. The shrug emoji is especially popular in Slack when responding to questions or problems that don’t have clear answers.

To use the shrug emoji on Slack: 

• Simply type :shrug: in the chatbox and it will turn into 🤷.
• You can also search for shrug in the emoji panel. It’s a quick and easy way to keep the conversation casual while still addressing issues.

Fun Facts About the Shrug Emoji

The shrug emoji is loved for a reason! Here are some cool facts about why people love using it:

• Universal Expression: The shrug emoji is a global way to express uncertainty or a casual “whatever” attitude. Regardless of the language it means the same.
• Popular in Social Media: Whether it's Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, people use the shrug emoji to react to confusing or surprising situations.
• Workplace Use: The shrug emoji has made its way into professional communication, especially on platforms like Slack. It’s a lighthearted way to react to work updates, deadlines, or unexpected outcomes without sounding rude or dismissive.

Bonus: How to Use the Shrug Emoji in Surveys

Surveys are a great way to gather opinions. But sometimes, people might not have a clear answer—the shrug emoji is perfect for those moments. Here are some tips:

1. As a multiple-choice question: In questions that ask for opinions or ratings, you can include the shrug emoji as an option. For example:

“How do you feel about the new product?”

👍 Love it!

😐 It’s okay.

🤷 Not sure yet.

2. As a reaction: In some surveys, especially ones done on platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams, you can let people react with a shrug emoji. For example: 

"How confident do you feel about the direction the company is taking?"

👍 Very confident

😐 Somewhat confident

🤷 Not sure

👎 Not confident at all

3. In open-ended questions: Sometimes, a shrug emoji can be a valid answer in open-ended questions. For example, if a respondent doesn’t have strong feelings about a topic, they might respond with a simple 🤷 instead of typing out “I don’t know.”

With SurveySparrow, you can quickly add fun elements like emojis to capture honest feedback from your customers, or audience.

Ready to take your surveys to the next level? Get started: 

Wrapping Up

By following this guide, you’ll be using the shrug emoji like a pro. 

Whether it’s the classic yellow, the ASCII, or a more personalized version, the shrug emoji is a simple but mighty tool in communication. Whether you’re unsure about something, feeling ‘meh’, or just want to keep things casual, it does the job. 

With its many variations—yellow, man, woman, gender-neutral and multiple skin tones—this emoji is also versatile, and personal.