Visual Emotional Cues in Virtual Classrooms: A Gender-Based Study of Emoji Use

The rapid shift to online learning has reshaped how students communicate, enabling new opportunities but limiting the richness of emotional cues in virtual interactions. Emojis have emerged as visual tools that supplement text and signal affect, yet their role in online education remains insufficiently examined. This mixed-methods study investigated frequency, types, and perceived impacts of emoji use among male and female university students in online learning contexts. Quantitative analysis of survey data from ۲۵۰ participants revealed that female students used emojis significantly more often (M = ۵.۲) than male students (M = ۳.۸, p < .۰۰۱). Females also rated emojis as more appropriate for expressing emotions such as joy (p = .۰۰۲), sadness (p = .۰۱۵), and anger (p = .۰۳۵). Qualitative findings indicated that females perceived emojis as fostering warmth and connection, whereas males primarily used them for emphasis or humor. These results suggest that gender differences shape digital emotional expression, offering implications for designing emotionally supportive, inclusive online learning environments that balance engagement, clarity, and social connection.

کلیدواژه ها:

Emoji Use ، Gender Differences ، Digital Communication ، Online Learning ، Emotional Expression ، Engagement