Key Takeaways
- Emoji reactions and hand-raise tools let you participate in calls nonverbally, avoiding interruptions.
- Reactions show briefly on the screen; raised hands alert the moderator or host.
- Google Meet now supports gesture detection: raising your physical hand can trigger a hand-raise symbol.
- These features improve meeting flow, inclusion, and clarity.
Story and Details
Using Reactions and Hand-Raise in Google Meet
In Google Meet (desktop or mobile), participants can interact through:
- Emoji reactions: Tap “Send a reaction” from the three dots menu and choose an emoji. The emoji briefly appears as a badge or scrolling animation. Hosts or admins can disable this feature. (support.google.com/meet/answer/13151720)
- Hand-raise action: Tap the “Raise hand” button at the bottom of the call window. Your video tile will display a hand icon, and moderators will see all raised hands in order. (support.google.com/meet/answer/10159750)
- To lower your hand, tap the same button again. Moderators can also lower individual or all hands. (support.google.com/meet/answer/10159750)
On Android: tap the screen, go to controls → “More controls” → “Raise your hand.” (support.google.com/google-workspace-individual/answer/10159750)
Gesture Detection: Raising Your Physical Hand
Since November 2023, Google Meet can detect when you raise your real hand and interpret it as a virtual hand raise. (workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2023/11/google-meet-hand-raise-gesture-detection.html)
To enable this feature:
- In a meeting, go to “More options” → “Reactions” → “Hand Raise Gesture” and turn it on. (workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2023/11/google-meet-hand-raise-gesture-detection.html)
- Keep your camera on, and make sure your hand is clearly visible and not covering your face.
- Gesture detection pauses while you are speaking and reactivates afterward. (workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2023/11/google-meet-hand-raise-gesture-detection.html)
UI and Behavior Updates
On Android, Google is redesigning the interface so that the emoji reactions button is easier to find, while the hand-raise option is moved to an overflow menu. (androidpolice.com/google-meet-ui-makeover-emoji-reactions-android)
Emoji reactions include icons like thumbs up, heart, applause, and laughter, with skin tone variations available. (support.google.com/meet/answer/13151720)
Conclusions
By combining emoji reactions, the hand-raise feature, and gesture detection, virtual meetings become more natural and engaging. These tools help organize speaking turns, reduce interruptions, and make online participation more expressive and inclusive.
Sources
- Use Reactions in Google Meet — Official Google Support guide on emoji reactions
https://support.google.com/meet/answer/13151720 - Raise your hand in Google Meet — Official Google Support instructions
https://support.google.com/meet/answer/10159750 - Raise your hand with gesture detection in Google Meet — Google Workspace Updates announcement
https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2023/11/google-meet-hand-raise-gesture-detection.html - Google Meet adds gesture recognition — The Verge report on the rollout
https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/21/23971246/google-meet-gesture-recognition-hand-raise-new-feature - How to Raise Hand in Google Meet (Full 2024 Guide) — YouTube tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlM0pzQVNT8
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 