Zhuo Li
Pronouns: She/Her
Research Mentor(s): Carol Scott
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Pervasive Health Informatics Group / Information
Program: UROP
Session: Session 2 (10:00am – 10:50am)
Authors: Zhuo Li, Carol Scott
Abstract
Young people explore and navigate their psychosocial transformation throughout their development, including how they feel, express their mood, and interact with their peers. In the digital age, one important way they do all of this is with or through emojis. However, teen emoji usage is ever-changing and fast-paced, making it difficult to keep up with the most recent emojis and what each emoji means or represents. We intend to conduct a two-phase study to understand or determine: (1) how teens communicate with emojis in general and about their moods, emotions, and feelings; (2) whether this communication varies depending on the target of the communication; (3) how emoji knowledge is shared among U.S. teens; and (4) how teens reflect on their emoji use and its significance; and (5) If teens’ emoji interpretations align with those of their peers, and if so, how and in what ways. Beginning in March 2023, we will conduct virtual interviews with approximately 20 U.S. teens. The findings of these interviews will be used to understand and analyze an online survey of 125 teens in the United States. This is an exploratory study yet to be conducted. Therefore, at this point, we do not have any hypothesis or potential results. However, the findings will help to inform digital technology design and clinical assessments of youth emotions and moods.
