Emojis are old news now that the GIF keyboard is taking over. The GIF keyboard is starting to become more popular and the main way of communicating with friends through texting.
GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format. They are image files that are made smaller so they can be sent faster. Most GIFs typically have some animation to them as well.
The GIF keyboard was just put on Twitter in the last month and is also found on the dating app Tinder. It can now also be downloaded as an app so you can send GIF’s in text messages.
On the GIF keyboard app there are 96 different hashtags of keywords ranging from #fabulous, to #ew, to #hairflip and so on, that you can click on and then find numerous GIF relating to that keyword. You also have the option to search words, and the app will give you options it thinks are similar to what you are looking for.
“It is more entertaining than just texting, and it has every emotion you can think of, so there is a lot you can say just by using a GIF instead of just texting,” said junior Diego Reutter when asked why he likes using it more than texting.
The keyboard is available as an alternate keyboard just like Emojis. Once you search and find the GIF you like, you click on it and that automatically copies it. Then you just paste it into your text message, making it almost as easy to use as emojis.
“It’s a funny way to text and have little pictures that show emotion,” said Ottawa University senior Anna Morgan when talking about why she downloaded the keyboard.
“I use it everyday.” Morgan added.
People are now starting to have conversations only using GIFS. The clips range from being famous celebrities we all know, to animals, or animations.
“It spices things up,” Reutter said.
A high topic of debate is how does one pronounce “GIF.” According to Urban Dictionary the “g” is a “soft g” making it sound like “jif.”