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Young People Aged 15-25 Use Different Emojis Depending on the Recipient
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Abstract
The study looked at whether 15- to 25-year-olds adjust the way they use emojis depending on who they are communicating with and found that around 68% of respondents do. This adjustment is mainly due to the fear that older people will have difficulty understanding emojis or fear of being misunderstood or offended, indicating that young people have a strong social sensitivity in communication. The study also found that young people prefer to use funny, cute, or exaggerated emojis when communicating with friends while opting for more formal and polite symbols in older or more formal situations, reflecting their understanding of social norms. In addition, research shows that young people use emojis more frequently than older people, while face-to-face communication has declined, with digital channels becoming the primary means of communication. Emoji are not only a tool for emotional expression in modern communication but also an important means of constructing one's identity. While the study revealed valuable insights, there were limitations to the small sample size and self-reported data. Future studies should expand the sample and combine in-depth interviews to enhance the richness of the data. In addition, long-term tracking studies will provide a deeper understanding of long-term trends in emoji usage.
Keywords
Emoticons use adjustments, Digital communication styles, Emotional expression, Social sensitivity
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Cite this article
Kou,X. (2025). Young People Aged 15-25 Use Different Emojis Depending on the Recipient. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,91,26-34.
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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.
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Volume title: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Social Psychology and Humanity Studies
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