Representaciones Sociales del Uso de la Comunicación Icónica en los Chats de Mensajería en un Grupos de Jóvenes.

Abstract

Abstract In today's digital environment, emojis and stickers play a crucial role in communication among university students on platforms like WhatsApp. This research explores the social representations of chat language through an analysis of the use of these visual elements by four young adults from Universidad Santo Tomás in Bogotá. Inspired by Serge Moscovici's concept of social representations, the study seeks to understand how emojis and stickers are used to express emotions, construct identities, and facilitate inclusion in digital contexts. In-depth interviews were conducted to categorize and analyze language, communicative dynamics, and emotional expression in online interactions. Findings revealed that young adults use these visual resources not only to enhance communication clarity and efficacy but also to strengthen social bonds and affirm personal identities within their digital groups. Moreover, potential tensions were identified when expectations about emoji use were not met, which could impact online relationship dynamics. This study documents how emojis and stickers enrich digital communication and provides deep insights into how these elements shape social interactions and identity perceptions in a constantly evolving technological environment. The results contribute to understanding how technology influences the construction of shared meanings and the formation of virtual communities among young people in the digital age. Keywords: Communication, Emojis, Emotional Expression, Social Representations, Youth