Exploring Gender Differences in Emoji Usage: Implications for Human-Computer Interaction

AbstractThis study discusses the emojis employment that compensate for the absence of supralinguistic emotive cues in digital communication. Analyzing gender relations (Male-to-Male, Male-to-Female, Female-to-Male, Female-to-Female) as a social influence factor in emoji use, the research explores the use of anger-related emojis and their dual functions as emotion signals and intensifiers. Findings reveal women use more intense emojis toward men and less severe ones toward women, a pattern not observed in men when emphasizing emotions. Hence, the study contributes to the conceptual application of emotional expression via emojis within digital media, raising sentiments on gender variances and improving emotional intelligence in artificial intelligence systems to yield a more accurate human feeling interpretation.