Apple frequently provides updates for iPhones. With so many updates, staying informed about all the new features can be challenging.

Recently, the term “emphasized” on iPhones has confused many users. So, what does emphasized mean on an iPhone?

Messaging is now a popular communication method, and companies are adding features to improve the user experience.

One such feature is the ability to react to messages. Users can respond with hearts, laughs, or other emojis. 

Recently, people have noticed an “emphasized” reaction to their messages. What does this mean?

Let’s take a look. This article will explain what “emphasized” means on the iPhone.

What does the emphasized reaction on iMessage mean?

Apple recently added a new feature to the iMessage app. The emphasized reaction is one of the several reactions you can add to messages.

Two exclamation marks appear next to the message, highlighting it.

These reactions are also known as “tapbacks.” Tapbacks are small icons that let users respond to a message with a single tap, displaying various emojis.

Using a tapback is easy. Press and hold the message you want to react to, then pick an emoji from the options that appear.

One of these tapback emojis is the emphasize emoji, represented by two exclamation marks. The recipient sees the tapback and can respond with another one.

What does the emphasized reaction mean on an iPhone?

The double exclamation mark or emphasized reaction can mean different things based on the sender and the conversation in iMessage.

Here are some possible meanings:

• Drawing Attention: It often asks the recipient to look at the message.
• Expressing Excitement: The emphasized reaction can show excitement, especially when the message is essential.
• Showing Shock or Surprise: When words aren’t enough, this reaction can express surprise or awe about a text, photo, or video.
• Agreeing with a Message: Some people use it to show they agree with what was said.
• Marking Urgency: You can use this reaction to highlight that a message is urgent or essential in a busy conversation.

How to highlight a message on an iPhone?

If you want to highlight a message using the emphasize tap back in iMessage, follow these steps:

1. Open the iMessage app and go to the chat.
2. Press and hold the message you want to react to.
3. A list of tapbacks will appear.
4. Select the “!!” symbol to highlight the message.
5. The other person will see that you’ve highlighted the message.
6. They can also add their tapback.
7. To remove a tapback, tap the message again and select the reaction you want to delete.

How can you tell who “emphasized” your message?

In iMessage group chats, you might see multiple tapbacks on one message. You might ask yourself how to find out who emphasized the message.

Here’s the way to check:

1. Launch the iMessage app on your iPhone.  
2. Go to the specific group conversation.  
3. Tap on the highlighted icon next to the message with multiple reactions.  
4. A list of people who reacted will appear above the message.

Who Can Use Emphasized Messages and Tapbacks?

As stated earlier, tapbacks are a newer feature on Apple devices. Your device must have macOS 10.12 or higher, iOS 10 or higher, or iPadOS 13 or higher to use them.

People with older versions will see a text label instead of the tapback. Tapbacks only work in iMessage and not in standard text messages.

Conclusion

The “emphasize” reaction on the iPhone helps you express emotions in iMessage. You can also explore other reactions and share them with friends and family.