Emojis in Education: a Comparative Analysis of Digital Platforms

Abstract

Introduction: The technological revolution has led to the reintroduction of symbols in communication, a practice previously used in ancient writing systems. Thus, although they are not a 21st-Century innovation, digitalisation has motivated using emojis in digital communication, acquiring unique and distinctive designs across platforms, which can cause multiple interpretations and affect communicative effectiveness. Methodology: The study aims to carry out a comparative analysis of the representations of 24 emojis on various platforms in the educational field, using a descriptive approach based on characterisations of graphic-visual design. Results: The data analysis highlighted significant differences between the perceptions of emojis depending on the platform used, identifying four distinct groups concerning graphic-visual design. Discussions: More detailed and consistent emojis aid communication by reducing semantic and emotional ambiguity. However, the inconsistency of some representations can lead to misinterpretation and make messages difficult to understand. Conclusions: Thus, the perceptual variability of their graphic-visual designs depending on the platform used in the educational environment questions their conception as universalised symbols.