MISUNDERSTANDING IN EMOJI USE BEGGING HAND: A CROSS CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE ON COLLEGE IN STUDENTS SOCIAL MEDIA.

Abstract

Emoji is (begging hand) often used by students in using social media as a form of politeness, gratitude, or request. However, the meaning of this emoji is not always universal and can trigger misunderstandings, especially in cross-cultural communication. This study aims to explore students' perceptions of emoji and identify potential miscommunication in its use. The method used in this study was qualitative with a purposive sampling technique, involving 16 Indonesian students aged 18–25 years who are active on social media. Data were collected through an open-ended essay questionnaire via Google Form, then analyzed using thematic analysis. The theories used include Intercultural Pragmatics, Politeness Strategy, and the concept of digital nonverbal communication. The results of the study showed that most students understand emoji as a symbol of politeness, but avoid using it in formal situations for fear of being misinterpreted. Cultural differences, social contexts, and duration of social media use influence the interpretation of this emoji. This study emphasizes the importance of cross-cultural digital communication literacy, as well as the need for visual pragmatics education in higher education. Further research is recommended to explore other multi-interpretable emojis in the context of countries.