Dynamically manipulating an emoticon or avatar

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions in code which when loaded into memory and executed on a processor of a computing device is adapted to:

• compose a textual electronic message in a message user interface displayed by a computing device in response to user input provided by an end user;
• insert into the textual electronic message a graphic user representation;
• detect a change in context for the electronic message;
• and
• modify a visual appearance of the graphic user representation already inserted in the electronic message to indicate the change in context for the electronic message.

A computing device comprising:

• a memory;
• a processor coupled to the memory, the processor operable to execute a communication application that enables composition and transmission of messages;
• a display operable to display a graphic user representation;
• a message user interface in which a textual electronic message is composed in response to user input provided by an end user;
• and
• a user input device operable to insert into the textual electronic message the graphical user representation, to detect a change in context for the electronic message and to modify the graphic user representation already inserted into the textual electronic message to indicate the change in context for the electronic message, wherein the display presents the modified graphic user representation.