Emojis as tools for Cross-Cultural Communication: A comparative study of Twitter and Weibo during the FIFA World Cup

Abstract

The 2022 FIFA World Cup provided a unique opportunity to examine the use of emojis as tools for emotional expression and cross-cultural communication on two prominent social media platforms: Weibo and Twitter. This study explores the patterns of emoji usage during this global event, focusing on differences between the platforms and their cultural underpinnings. Using a dataset of 487,505 posts, the analysis reveals significant distinctions in emoji preferences and functions, highlighting the dynamic adaptability of emojis in diverse social and cultural contexts. The findings contribute to understanding the role of emojis as modern digital symbols, offering practical insights for social media platforms, brands, and advertisers to optimize user engagement and cross-cultural interactions.