Diya Saraf

Date of Award

6-18-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Publisher

Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2024

Department

Computer Science and Engineering

First Advisor

Yuhong Liu

Abstract

This thesis examines the impact of emojis on user engagement within online discussions, particularly focusing on the trolling behavior on social media platforms such as Reddit. The central problem addressed is understanding how different types of emojis—in emotional, informational, and popularity-based categories—affect user interactions and engagement in online communications. Through a robust methodological approach, combining quantitative data analysis and Random Forest regression modeling, this research meticulously analyzes emoji usage patterns and their correlations with engagement metrics like upvotes and comments.

The results highlight that emotional and popular emojis significantly enhance engagement by facilitating emotional expression and connection among users. In contrast, excessive or inappropriate use of emojis, especially those less popular or predominantly informational, tends to reduce engagement. These findings suggest that while emojis can serve as powerful tools for enhancing communication and mitigating conflicts, their misuse can lead to decreased user interaction and potential misunderstandings.

Based on these insights, the study concludes that understanding the context-specific impacts of emojis is crucial for both content creators and platform moderators to foster healthier online environments. Recommendations for future research include exploring the effects of cultural differences on emoji interpretation and expanding the predictive modeling to other platforms to generalize the findings. This work contributes to the broader discourse on digital communication strategies, offering guidelines for more effective and empathetic engagement online.

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