Chat boxes don't have a button for tone, so emoji have to do double duty. We'd like to see how people of different ages read and use emoji. Go with your gut. There are no right answers.

This questionnaire examines how people of different ages use and interpret emojis in text-based chat, and how people detect or handle misunderstandings when the tone conveyed by an emoji differs from the tone perceived by the recipient.

01 Your age group

18–25

26–40

41–49

50 or older

Prefer not to say

02 Days you sent emoji in chats over the past 7 days

0 days

1–2 days

3–5 days

6–7 days

Can't recall

03 Your most-used texting platform over the past 7 days

WeChat

SMS

Other

Sent no texts

04 Rate each emoji on the scale. Imagine getting one emoji with no text. Go with your first impression and rate how positive or negative it feels. Mark the question-mark column if you're unsure.

−100 Very negative	−50 Mildly negative	0 Neutral	50 Mildly positive	100 Very positive	? Unsure
A
−100 Very negative −50 Mildly negative 0 Neutral 50 Mildly positive 100 Very positive ? Unsure
B
−100 Very negative −50 Mildly negative 0 Neutral 50 Mildly positive 100 Very positive ? Unsure
C
−100 Very negative −50 Mildly negative 0 Neutral 50 Mildly positive 100 Very positive ? Unsure
D
−100 Very negative −50 Mildly negative 0 Neutral 50 Mildly positive 100 Very positive ? Unsure
E
−100 Very negative −50 Mildly negative 0 Neutral 50 Mildly positive 100 Very positive ? Unsure
F
−100 Very negative −50 Mildly negative 0 Neutral 50 Mildly positive 100 Very positive ? Unsure
G
−100 Very negative −50 Mildly negative 0 Neutral 50 Mildly positive 100 Very positive ? Unsure
H
−100 Very negative −50 Mildly negative 0 Neutral 50 Mildly positive 100 Very positive ? Unsure

05 One smile in three chats. You're chatting with a friend you don't know very well. In each of the three chats below, they reply with just

. How positive or negative does each reply sound? Write a number or a question mark at the end of each row.

1 Very negative	2 Mildly negative	3 Neutral	4 Mildly positive	5 Very positive	? Unsure
A. “I sent you the time we're meeting.”
1 Very negative 2 Mildly negative 3 Neutral 4 Mildly positive 5 Very positive ? Unsure
B. “Sorry, I might be ten minutes late.”
1 Very negative 2 Mildly negative 3 Neutral 4 Mildly positive 5 Very positive ? Unsure
C. “Here's a groaner. Why doesn't the ice cube know anyone? It's too cold to break the ice.”
1 Very negative 2 Mildly negative 3 Neutral 4 Mildly positive 5 Very positive ? Unsure

06 Give the same message a caption. You send a friend the time you're meeting, and they reply, “Got it

.” For each situation below, write the letter of the caption that fits best. You can use a letter more than once.

You reply to someone you know. What do you mean?

A. I saw your message

B. I agree with the plan

C. I want to end the chat

D. I'm a bit impatient

E. I'm not sure

F. Other (write it in that row)

A 25-year-old you know replies. How do you read it?

A. I saw your message

B. I agree with the plan

C. I want to end the chat

D. I'm a bit impatient

E. I'm not sure

F. Other (write it in that row)

A 55-year-old you know replies. How do you read it?

A. I saw your message

B. I agree with the plan

C. I want to end the chat

D. I'm a bit impatient

E. I'm not sure

F. Other (write it in that row)

07 A recent experience with emoji. In the past 30 days, did you receive an emoji in a chat and later find out that you had understood it differently from what the sender meant? Select one.

Yes

Not sure

I did not receive any emoji during this period.

If you answered “Yes,” think of the most recent time this happened. How did you find out what the sender meant? Please leave out names and other identifying details.

For that same chat, how old was the sender compared with you?

Younger than me

About my age

Older than me

I don’t know.

08 Only three spots on your group chat keyboard. Pick up to three emoji below that you'd be most willing to send. Write their letters in order of preference. Use each letter only once and write “None” in any spot you leave empty.

1st choice

2nd choice

3rd choice

09 Reply with one emoji. A friend finds the keys you left on the table and texts, “Found them! I'll hang on to them for you.” Reply with one emoji. You can write its letter from above or draw or type a different emoji. If you'd normally reply with just words or wouldn't reply at all, write “Text” or “No reply.” Your reply

10 Write or draw the next message. You send a photo to someone you know who's quite a bit older than you. They reply with just

, and you can't quite read their tone. Write or draw what you'd most likely send next. If you wouldn't respond, write “No reply.” My next message

11 Write an instruction label for an emoji. Optional. Is there an emoji you use with caution in certain situations? Write a warning for its imaginary packaging. If none comes to mind, write “None.”

Emoji

I'd use it with caution when

because

Emoji Use and Interpretation

Emoji Use and Interpretation