ANALISIS PENGARUH PENGGUNAAN EMOJI JEMPOL PADA APLIKASI WHATSSAPP TERHADAP KUALITAS KOMUNIKASI INTERPERSONAL MAHASISWA ILMU KOMUNIKASI UNIMUDA SORONG
Keywords:
Thumbs-up emoji, WhatsApp, interpersonal communication, digital communication, Communication Science studentsAbstract
This study aims to analyze the influence of thumbs-up emoji usage on WhatsApp application on the quality of interpersonal communication among Communication Science students at Muhammadiyah University of Education (UNIMUDA) Sorong. The phenomenon of digital communication that dominates students' lives, particularly through WhatsApp, enables interactions using emoji as nonverbal symbols. The popular thumbs-up emoji has various interpretations ranging from approval to sarcasm, potentially causing ambiguity in interpersonal communication. The research employed a descriptive quantitative approach with cross-sectional survey method. The population consisted of Communication Science students at UNIMUDA Sorong from the 2021-2024 cohorts, with a sample of 38 respondents selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected through observation, closed questionnaires using Likert scale, and documentation. Analysis utilized descriptive statistics and simple linear regression. The research findings indicate that the majority of students use thumbs-up emoji consistently with dominant meanings as symbols of approval (17.58%) and appreciation (17.03%). Regression analysis shows a positive and significant influence between thumbs-up emoji usage and interpersonal communication quality (t-calculated = 10.311 > t-table = 1.66830) with a contribution of 74.7%. The research concludes that thumbs-up emoji plays an important role in enriching digital communication and improving the effectiveness of students' interpersonal communication.
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