The 'papa' emote is typically used as a friendly greeting or farewell in Twitch chat. It represents waving hello or goodbye to someone, similar to how you might wave to a friend. The emote can be used to acknowledge someone's arrival in chat, say goodbye when leaving, or simply as a friendly gesture of recognition. It carries a warm, welcoming, and nostalgic tone due to its classic MSN Messenger origins.
Origin
The 'papa' emote originates from the classic Windows 95/98 era MSN Messenger emoticons. It depicts a yellow smiley face emoticon with a waving hand, representing a friendly wave or greeting. This particular emoticon was part of Microsoft's original emoticon set from the late 1990s and early 2000s. The emote was later adopted into Twitch culture through third-party extensions like FrankerFaceZ (FFZ) or BetterTTV, where streamers and communities could add custom emotes. The nostalgic Windows/MSN aesthetic has made it popular among streamers and viewers who grew up using these classic internet communication tools.
When to use
Greeting the streamer or other chatters when joining a stream
Saying goodbye when leaving the stream
Welcoming new viewers or regulars to the chat
Acknowledging someone's message or presence in a friendly way
Expressing nostalgia for early internet culture and MSN Messenger days
Creating a welcoming and friendly atmosphere in chat
