monitote

Monitote is a term that emerged from early internet culture, specifically within online communities. It is a portmanteau, a blend of the words "monitor" and "emote." Essentially, a monitote refers to a short, often animated, GIF or image that is displayed alongside a user's name or avatar in a chatroom or forum. These images are typically used to express a user's mood, reaction, or a simple acknowledgment without the need for typing a full response.

The concept of monitotes gained traction in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the rise of real-time chat platforms and the increasing availability of high-speed internet. Users would often search for or create small, often pixelated, animated GIFs depicting characters or objects making faces, performing actions, or displaying emotions. These were then uploaded and associated with their user profiles within the chat client. The appeal of monitotes lay in their ability to add a visual and often humorous dimension to online conversations, making them feel more dynamic and engaging. While the term "monitote" itself may not be as commonly used today, the underlying principle of using small visual cues to convey emotion or reaction persists in modern online communication through emojis, stickers, and reaction GIFs on social media and messaging apps.