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Content, Emojis, and Context : Understanding User Responses to Mobile App Notifications
Yan, Yufei (2025) Content, Emojis, and Context : Understanding User Responses to Mobile App Notifications.
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| Abstract: | This study aimed to explore how users perceive and interact with the mobile app notifications which differ in terms of practicableness (content relevance and richness) and visual richness (usage of emojis), and how these responses differ in work and leisure contexts. The study used a qualitative approach, which evaluates four notification prototypes through semi-structured interviews with 16 participants. Each prototype represented a different combination of content and visual design. The results showed that the practical content was the main driver of perceived usefulness; while visual richness could enhance or diminish user engagement, and it depends on its consistency with the text. Emojis were welcomed when they promoted emotional clarity or appeal but were often viewed as manipulative or distracting when matched with ambiguous content. Additionally, participants expressed different preferences depending on the context: during work, they preferred concise, simplified notifications; while during leisure, they are more tolerant to expressive and visually rich formats. In summary, this study highlights the importance of context-aware and meaning-consistent notification design. And effective notifications should not only convey information but also adapt to user's context and expectations. These findings provide unique insights for application designers and contribute to the ongoing discussion around attention-sensitive communication strategies. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 05 communication studies |
| Programme: | Communication Science BSc (56615) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/107064 |
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