What is the smaller blue thumb with the black outline that comes up from the riders avatar and not down? I keep seeing it and can’t find anywhere to tell me what it is. TIA.
Since a month ago emotes have had an overhaul. Here is a video:
Sorry I’m so dumb but I don’t see an answer to my question. I’ve watched that video. I don’t believe it answers my question.
From the video (at time mark 0:32) it looks like the blue upward-thumb is generated when a rider selects the “Ride On” emoji.
Thanks Tom. So others see it over my head but I don’t see it over my avatars head?
Ok I think I’ve got it. It happens when you use the emote page RideOn from the companion app. I’m not sure why they added that? It’s redundant and inefficient. Involves an extra keystroke and an extra page. 
At least I can sleep now. 
I’m guessing the purposes is so that if you’re in-game, you get a visualization of who around you generated one of the emojis. Previously you’d just hear “Nice!” but have no idea where it came from.
It’s user interface icing, not really added functional value.