bell
Unicode: 1F514
Description
A bell, typically golden, with a clapper visible inside. It is often depicted with sound waves emanating from it, indicating it is ringing or making a sound.
Group:
Objects > sound
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Commonly represents notifications, alerts, reminders, or general attention-grabbing. It can evoke a sense of being informed, reminded, or sometimes annoyed by frequent alerts.
Backstory
This emoji, often referred to as the 'Bell' emoji, was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010 and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015. Its primary function in digital communication is to signify alerts, notifications, or a call to attention, mirroring its real-world function as a warning or announcement device.
Usage Examples
- Used to indicate a new notification: 'You have a new message! 🔔'
- As a reminder: 'Don't forget the meeting! 🔔'
- To draw attention: 'Important update: Prices will change next week! 🔔'
- On social media to turn on post notifications for a creator: 'Turn on the bell icon to get updates! 🔔'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Widely understood as a 'notification' or 'alert' icon, especially in digital interfaces. Also used for church bells, school bells, or doorbells.
East Asian culture:
Similar digital notification usage. In some contexts, bells can have spiritual significance, especially in Buddhist or Shinto traditions (e.g., temple bells). However, the emoji primarily conveys digital alerts.