Emojis and the interpretation of text messages between friends and between acquaintances

EasyChair Preprint 6177

Abstract

In this project, we examined how including face-like emojis would influence the interpretation of ambiguous text messages presented as sent between friends or between acquaintances. Participants saw screenshots of brief iPhone conversations and selected from four options the most likely interpretation of ambiguous final messages. Without an emoji, participants preferred literal interpretations, and this did not differ by sender-recipient relationship. With the emoji, participants preferred interpretations congruent with the specific sentiment conveyed by the emoji, especially for conversations between acquaintances. People are sensitive to the ways that emojis can convey more specific meanings, and this may vary across communicative contexts.

Keyphrases: Emojis, Message interpretation, computer-mediated communication, online communication, social context

@booklet{EasyChair:6177,
  author    = {Joy Zheng and William S. Horton},
  title     = {Emojis and the interpretation of text messages between friends and between acquaintances},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint 6177},
  year      = {EasyChair, 2021}}