Understanding the use of Indexical, Symbolic and Iconic signs in the interface of Twitter and Facebook: A semiotic perspective

Authors

  • Dr. Farooq Ahmed Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. farooq.eng@must.edu.pk
  • Samia Anwar Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir samia.eng@must.edu.pk
  • Misbah Shabbir Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir mishalrajput834@gmail.com

Keywords:

Facebook, Twitter, Symbols, indexical, Iconic signs, Semiotics, graphic representation of User interface

Abstract

Icons, signs, and symbols are important in modern communication systems, particularly digital language. Social media platforms make considerable use of these graphic components in their user interfaces (UI & UX) to allow users to easily traverse various functions. Sites such as Twitter and Facebook, which are well-known for connecting people all over the world, use a variety of icons to help users interact and complete tasks. This paper sought to investigate these icons and their intended meanings, basing its analysis on semiotics. It examined how indexical signs, icons, and symbols in Facebook and Twitter's user interfaces engaged users, helping to generate both inferred and explicit meanings. Data were sourced directly from Twitter and Facebook interfaces, demonstrating that iconic and symbolic signs dominated the graphical representations, with obvious meanings.

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Published

2025-02-10

How to Cite

Dr. Farooq Ahmed, Samia Anwar, & Misbah Shabbir. (2025). Understanding the use of Indexical, Symbolic and Iconic signs in the interface of Twitter and Facebook: A semiotic perspective. Physical Education, Health and Social Sciences, 3(1), 257–268. Retrieved from https://journal-of-social-education.org/index.php/Jorunal/article/view/111

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025): Physical Education, Health and Social Sciences (January - March, 2025 )

Section

General Category