A study of dynamic emoji emotional responses based on rhythms and motion effects

Dynamic emojis are a form of nonverbal communication used in social programs to express emotions during conversations. Studies have shown that different dynamic effects can influence users’ emotional perceptions. Previous studies have focused on the emotional responses elicited by static emojis, while the emotional responses to dynamic emojis have not been thoroughly explored. In this study, we examined the impact of 128 different dynamic effects, categorized into emotional types (HAHV, LAHV, HALV, and LALV), on users’ arousal and valence, and conducted semi-structured interviews to identify users’ preferred dynamic effects. The results revealed significant and positive correlations between the arousal levels of all dynamic emojis and the effects of rhythms. However, the impact of rhythms on the valence of dynamic emojis varied depending on the emotion types of emojis. Specifically, the effects of motion on the valence of dynamic high-valence emojis were found to be significant, whereas they were not significant for dynamic low-valence emojis. Based on these findings, we recommend considering following factors in the design of dynamic emojis, including rhythms, motion effects, motion range, emotional metaphors, and the creation of contrast.