Excessive use of emojis in a text message reveals this about someone, study says

New York Post - Apr 30th, 2025
Open on New York Post

A study conducted by Oklahoma State University, published in Current Psychology, explores how emoji usage can reflect underlying personality traits. Surveying 285 undergraduates, the research found that frequent emoji use among men may indicate manipulative behaviors and emotional instability, while women use emojis to manage perceptions, aiming to appear agreeable and open. The findings suggest that emojis are not just digital decorations but tools for self-presentation and manipulation of social impressions.

In a related development, Amit Kalley, founder of For Working Parents, highlights the potential dangers of emoji communication among children. Kalley warns that certain emojis carry hidden meanings, used by teens to convey secretive or illicit messages. For example, emojis like snowflakes and 8-balls can symbolize drugs, while others like apples and hedgehogs might represent ideological or social codes. This underscores the need for parental vigilance in understanding the evolving language of emojis, as their meanings can extend beyond the apparent, impacting communication and safety online.

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RATING

5.6
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article presents an intriguing exploration of the relationship between emoji use and personality traits, alongside the potential for hidden meanings in digital communication. While the topic is timely and engages public interest, the story's accuracy is somewhat undermined by a lack of detailed evidence and transparency regarding the sources and methodologies involved. The article could benefit from a more balanced presentation of perspectives and a clearer distinction between the study's findings and speculative interpretations. Overall, the piece succeeds in capturing reader interest but requires further verification and context to strengthen its credibility and impact.

RATING DETAILS

6
Accuracy

The story makes several factual claims that require verification, particularly regarding the study from Oklahoma State University and the assertions made by Amit Kalley about emoji meanings. The claim that heavy emoji use in men correlates with manipulative behavior and mood instability is a significant assertion that needs direct evidence from the study. Additionally, the connection between women's emoji use and self-image management is presented without clear attribution or evidence. The story also discusses Amit Kalley's "periodic table of emojis," which suggests hidden meanings for various emojis. This requires verification of Kalley's credibility and the methodology used to determine these associations. The potential conflation of two distinct stories—personality study and emoji slang guide—without clear demarcation further complicates the factual accuracy of the piece.

5
Balance

The story primarily presents the perspectives of the researchers from Oklahoma State University and Amit Kalley, without offering counterpoints or alternative interpretations of the data. This lack of balance suggests a potential bias in favor of the study's conclusions and Kalley's interpretations. The article could have benefited from including expert opinions or critiques from psychologists or emoji researchers to provide a more rounded view of the subject. Additionally, the portrayal of gender-specific findings without exploring broader societal or cultural contexts might skew the perception of the research's implications.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear in its language and structure, making it accessible to a broad audience. The tone is engaging and the narrative flows logically from the study's findings to Kalley's claims about emoji meanings. However, the article could improve clarity by explicitly distinguishing between the study's findings and Kalley's interpretations to prevent reader confusion. Additionally, providing more detailed explanations or examples of the study's methodology and Kalley's claims would enhance comprehension and allow readers to better evaluate the information presented.

6
Source quality

The article references a study from Oklahoma State University and cites Amit Kalley, founder of For Working Parents, as sources. While the university affiliation lends some credibility, the lack of direct access to the study or peer-reviewed publication details weakens the source quality. Amit Kalley's claims about emoji meanings are presented without supporting evidence or verification of his expertise in this area, which raises questions about the reliability of the information provided. The article would benefit from including more authoritative sources or direct links to the study and Kalley's work.

4
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in several areas, particularly concerning the methodology of the cited study and the basis for Amit Kalley's claims. There is no detailed explanation of how the study was conducted, the sample size, or the statistical significance of the findings. Similarly, Kalley's assertions about emoji meanings are presented without context or evidence of how these interpretations were derived. The absence of such transparency makes it difficult for readers to assess the validity of the claims and understand the potential limitations or biases inherent in the study and Kalley's work.

Sources

  1. https://openresearch.okstate.edu/bitstreams/e53b35b3-6290-4f43-a636-5474c986fedd/download
  2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38375105/
  3. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1343022/full
  4. https://ecommons.luc.edu/cs_facpubs/304/
  5. https://colab.ws/articles/10.3389%2Ffpsyg.2024.1343022