For someone who had to once draw out an annotated diagram of a Nokia 3310 phone, explaining each button's function with a step-by-step guide on how to send a single text message for my elderly grandmother as a child (I did point out the fact the phone came with its own instruction manual…), I know all too well the difficulties of teaching an older person how to use modern-day technology.

However, it looks like one technophile grandad out there has figured out a far simpler method when it comes to sending messages – emotions in particular – over the internet than scrolling through the several pages of smiley faces at the bottom of your phone.

Grandad | ELLE UKpinterest
Rex

Last week, Reddit user BslickBenz posted a photo of his granddad's emoji cheat sheet which helps him play online poker.

According to the user, the grandad keeps it posted on his desk for easy access, and has every emoticon face you could wish for; everything from the wide-grinned smiley, the face with a halo, the anguished one, and the questionably sad/constipated face.

They captioned the post: 'So, my 78-year-old grandfather plays online poker with older women all over the world and uses the chat in the game. I just found this taped to his desk, next to his computer... How cute is he?'

EMoji pic | ELLE UKpinterest
Imgur

Unsurprisingly, the post has has people across the world voicing their love and respect for the septuagenarian.

Compliments ranged from 'your grandpa got game' and 'oh my goodness I've never seen something so cute, this is so wholesome', to others pointing out the grandad is a baller for flirting with elderly women online with emojis.

'Mackin to the very end,' wrote one user, 'he's getting nudes, let's be real', wrote another.

via GIPHY

'Those are gateway emojis, watch out for the eggplant,' added one concerned commenter.

According BslickBenz, the grandpa uses his AOL account to play online poker, which kind of explains the old-school, 90s emojis he's favouring.

To be fair, maybe the old man is onto something. Having spent a good five minutes searching for the French flag emoji the other day, perhaps we could all do with an emoji shortcut when we're in a rush.

Headshot of Katie O'Malley
Katie O'Malley
Site Director

Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.