COMMUNICATING IN THE MULTIMEDIA AGE: EXPLORING THE USE OF EMOJIOLOGY IN SELECTED X COMMENTS ON MIRABEL’S ALLEGED RAPE SAGA

Abstract

Communication does more than enable human survival; it helps humans to thrive across all spheres of interactions, from leisure activities to business engagements. Emojis as iconic communication symbols of expression help to construct, label and deepen meaning in contemporary digital communication. However, due to the increasing need for universally understanding symbols that convey meaning and express emotion, the use of emojis as an interactive feature in digital communication has become increasingly important. This study examines Emojiology as a tool for sharing and deepening meaning in machine assisted (computer-aided) communication exchange. The study is underpinned by the multimodal discourse analysis framework within a qualitative semiotic approach. Primary data were obtained from posts and comments on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), in response to discussion surrounding an alleged rape incident involving a social media user, Abigail Inkak, popularly known as Mirabel, reported in Lagos, Nigeria, in February 2026. The study examines the role of emojis as paralinguistic features in digital communication, focusing on their use in selected online responses to the case. Findings reveal semiotic resources such as emojis enhance communication by deepening emotional expression and clarifying intended meaning. Emojis and emoticons help to reduce cultural and linguistic barriers, thereby supporting more universal forms of meaning-making in digital discourse. In light of these findings, the study concludes that the convergence of meaning and emotional expression through emojis should be further explored and developed as an efficient and increasingly relevant mode of communication in contemporary society.