The Functions and Characteristics of Emojis and Memes in Intimate Interpersonal Online Communication

Abstract

Emojis and memes have become prevalent in digital communication, particularly in intimate online chatting. This research analyzes the use of emojis and memes in intimate online chatting through the lens of rapport management theory, with a focus on two questions: 1) What are the characteristics of emojis and memes used in intimate online communication? 2) What are the functions of emojis and memes used in intimate online communication? Using ethnographic methods, data is collected from an online chatting group called “Siblings in law,” which consisted of four members. Our findings revealed three characteristics of emojis and memes used in intimate online chatting: 1) Emojis are used more often than memes, but memes are preferred by online interlocutors. 2) Different individuals have different preferences for emojis and memes, and they use emojis or memes that their friends like to use. 3) The same emoji used in a different context may convey different or even opposite meanings. Additionally, we found that emojis and memes in intimate online communication serve three functions: 1) They protect the face of interlocutors by upgrading praise and downgrading ordering utterances. 2) They help realize the association principle of the rapport management theory. 3) Certain types of emojis and memes assist in achieving the interactional goal of intimate online communication.