You Pick A Side: Should people reply to every message with a reaction or thumbs-up?

Thursday, 7 May 2026

Stuff is launching a new weekly series diving into the small, everyday topics that get people talking.

There’s no shortage of big issues to debate but what about the little ones that spark surprisingly strong opinions?

Each week, we’ll put up a simple question, make the case for both sides, and let you decide. Vote in the poll, or have your say in the comments.

So … pick a side.

Yes, you should react to messages

Not every message needs a full written reply. Sometimes a thumbs-up, heart or laughing emoji does the job perfectly. It’s quick, it shows you’ve seen the message, and it saves everyone from endless “sounds good”, “thanks” and “haha” replies clogging up group chats. In a world where people are constantly messaging, reactions are efficient digital manners.

No, reactions are lazy

A thumbs-up can feel cold, dismissive or even passive aggressive depending on the situation. Some messages deserve an actual response, not just a tiny emoji tap. Reactions can also kill conversations stone dead, leaving people wondering whether you’re annoyed, uninterested or just trying to end the chat as fast as possible.

Have your say in the comments and let us know if you have any topics you want discussed. If you’re using the Stuff app on iOS you’ll need to view Stuff.co.nz on a browser to view and post comments.