This thesis investigates emojis as feedback strategies in instant messaging (IM) and aims to investigate the potential of emojis to serve as independent feedback utterances in IM dialogues. Through the design and execution of two explorative studies utilizing online IM communication simulators, this research first aims to categorize feedback utterances in IM into a corpus based textual analysis. Subsequently, it assesses interpretations of emojis when employed as feedback strategies, shedding light on their efficacy and limitations. The findings suggest that emojis, when understood in the context of the utterer's intention, can effectively serve as feedback utterances, enriching the dialogue with emotional and informational cues. However, the utility of emojis is contingent on the recipient's recognition and adoption of the utterer's intention, with misinterpretations potentially leading to communication breakdowns
