Emoticons and social interaction on the Internet: the importance of social context (original) (raw)

Abstract

The present study examines the influence of social context on the use of emoticons in Internet communication. Secondary school students (N = 158) responded to short internet chats. Social context (task-oriented vs. socio-emotional) and valence of the context (positive vs. negative) were manipulated in these chats. Participants were permitted to respond with text, emoticon or a combination of both. Results showed that participants used more emoticons in socio-emotional than in task-oriented social contexts. Furthermore, students used more positive emoticons in positive contexts and more negative emoticons in negative contexts. An interaction was found between valence and kind of context; in negative, task-oriented contexts subjects used the least emoticons. Results are related to research about the expression of emotions in face-to-face interaction.

Figures (1)

Frequency of emoticons (positive, negative) in positive en negative contexts Results showed a significant interaction effect between kind of social context and valence of social context F(1, 158) = 5.84, p < 0.05. In negative, task-oriented con- texts subjects indeed used the least emoticons (M = .37, SE = 0.08), and in negative, socio-emotional contexts subjects used most emoticons (M = 0.76, SE = 0.08). In po- sitive contexts, there was not much difference between socio-emotional (M = 0.55, SE = 0.08) and task-oriented social contexts (M = 0.56, SE = 0.07). Hypothesis 3 was confirmed. a ve # Zz y

Frequency of emoticons (positive, negative) in positive en negative contexts Results showed a significant interaction effect between kind of social context and valence of social context F(1, 158) = 5.84, p < 0.05. In negative, task-oriented con- texts subjects indeed used the least emoticons (M = .37, SE = 0.08), and in negative, socio-emotional contexts subjects used most emoticons (M = 0.76, SE = 0.08). In po- sitive contexts, there was not much difference between socio-emotional (M = 0.55, SE = 0.08) and task-oriented social contexts (M = 0.56, SE = 0.07). Hypothesis 3 was confirmed. a ve # Zz y

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