Viral study reveals most “emotionally triggering” text message

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A recently published research piece uncovered the text message that tends to elicit the strongest emotional response, and this finding has been spreading rapidly across various social platforms.

Text messaging often involves shortening words or using abbreviations as a quick way to communicate with others. These shorthand forms are quite common among texters.

Certain replies might be misconstrued, but a study discovered that the term which evokes the strongest emotional response among recipients is used the most frequently.

In the study, various options included phrases such as “sure” or just not responding at all. However, a single letter stood out and surpassed every other choice: ‘K’.

A single letter triggers people the most

As per a 2023 study published in the Journal of Mobile Communication, it was found that among all responses in digital conversations, the one-letter “K” tends to be the least well-received.

The study concluded that a brief, one-word reply like “conveys a sense of emotional detachment, indirect hostility, or lack of enthusiasm.

The emotionally sensitive term spread rapidly across social media platforms, igniting discussions as many users voiced their opinions on the topic.

A study found that texting ‘K’ is the most emotionally triggering message you can send

— TopMob (@TopMob) May 8, 2025

Some found it astonishing that a brief version of “Okay” could set off individuals. A user responded by saying, “It’s merely short-hand, I don’t understand the fuss, just relax.

“I never understood why people would just text ‘K’ or ‘Kk’,” a second commented.

Several users also reported finding certain words annoying in text conversations, and some went as far as stating that even a simple thumbs-up emoticon provoked them.

“‘mhm’ is far worse,” one user commented.

Another said: “No. ‘Got a second to chat?’ from your boss is the most triggering.”

This finding isn’t new; in fact, it’s similar to other studies that have garnered attention on social media platforms. For instance, back in 2024, a study unveiled the amount of money one spends per minute while shopping at Costco. Later in the same year, another piece of research surfaced, highlighting that numerous users are experiencing “stream fatigue” due to a decline in subscribers for movie and TV show streaming services.

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2025-05-08 22:34