Stickers can erode credibility – the line between news and specialized content
- The meaning of a sticker can change more easily than one might think.
- Is it appropriate to incorporate familiar characters into news broadcasts?
- If accuracy is paramount, it is safer to omit the information.
- The problem is not its cuteness, but rather how it disrupts the reading flow.
- The most common points of difficulty when attempting repairs yourself are:
- Determine the acceptable range based on the purpose and location of the text.
- Use DecoBlocks to divide space for decoration and information.
- Frequently Asked Questions.
- WordPress-related plugins
Imagine the first screen of a news article displaying a sentence describing the accident scene, alongside a smiling character sticker. While one sticker might make the article seem more approachable, the reader’s first question is likely to be: “Can I trust this information?”
In WordPress, character stickers are visual elements that complement the overall atmosphere. However, in news articles and professional content, the decorative nature of these stickers can clash with the weight and seriousness of the information being presented.
The key point is not the cuteness of the sticker.
The meaning of a sticker can change more easily than one might think.
A study analyzing online group discussions from 2021 found that stickers were used to indicate the tone of a message or to convey reactions instead of words. The problem is that the same image is not always interpreted with the same meaning.
Even if the sender intends to offer comfort, the recipient may interpret it as a joke or an attempt to avoid the issue. In the study, 34.7% of the stickers had a mismatch between the sender’s intention and the recipient’s interpretation.
34.7% of the data was read incorrectly.
In the main body of the news article, this difference may be more pronounced. This is because the reader is not reading a message from a comforting friend, but rather from someone who needs to verify facts.
Is it appropriate to incorporate familiar characters into news broadcasts?
If you frequently use character expressions in Naver blogs, Tistory, and messaging apps, you might want to incorporate a similar feel into your WordPress site. It’s natural to want to soften up a somewhat rigid writing style.
A study examining the use of emojis in news organizations in 2025 found that news channels use emojis to make social media posts appear more friendly and engaging. The study also noted that icons representing people and emojis expressing positive emotions are primarily used.
However, friendliness and trust do not always move in the same direction.
In a 2025 survey of American college students, stickers were used more frequently for self-expression than for conveying emotions when talking to new friends. This suggests that stickers may be perceived more as a means of self-representation than as a tool for expressing emotions.
If accuracy is paramount, it is safer to omit the information.
Stickers do not always diminish credibility. However, in situations where readers must first assess accuracy and authority, there is a greater risk that they will be perceived as frivolous or intended to be persuasive rather than friendly.
The answer is as follows:
In the main text and breaking news, where factual reporting is paramount, it is safer to omit the use of stickers.
Use it only as a supplementary decoration that does not replace emotions when absolutely necessary.
In three online experiments conducted in 2023, the use of more emojis in social media posts resulted in lower perceived credibility of the message and the information source. Depending on the experimental conditions, even as few as 6, 7, or 9 emojis resulted in lower ratings compared to posts without emojis.
The researchers explained that many emojis can give the reader the feeling that the sender is “trying to persuade me.” As a result, the reader may suspect the author’s intentions before understanding the content.
Decoration can sometimes appear to be a form of persuasion.
The problem is not its cuteness, but rather how it disrupts the reading flow.
The main reason why stickers reduce credibility is not simply because they are cute. They disrupt the flow of information, pre-attach emotional connotations to sentences, and can conflict with the expectations associated with professional writing.
In a 2023 study, it was found that the more emojis present in a text, the lower the level of recall of the factual information. This means that in texts where the reader needs to follow numbers and evidence, decorative elements can divert attention and cause important sentences to be overlooked.
Key information is being suppressed.
The 2021 sticker research also revealed the same problem. The meaning of a sticker is not fixed regardless of the text, but varies depending on the context of the conversation and the reader’s interpretation.
In a professional dialogue study conducted in 2026, it was analyzed that the appropriateness of the sentence’s tone and the compatibility of the stickers are more important than simply whether or not they are used. This means that it is also necessary to consider whether the sentence is suitable for the professional context.
The most common points of difficulty when attempting repairs yourself are:
WordPress administrators often grapple with the decision of where to place a character image: in the title, in the first paragraph of the body text, or at the end of the article. In articles related to topics such as accidents, health, law, or finance, even a small facial expression can significantly alter the perceived seriousness of the content.
A more difficult aspect is that the author already knows the intended meaning of the sticker. Therefore, it is easy to think, “This should be okay,” but a first-time reader would not know the background.
The author can see the explanation.
When checking directly, temporarily remove the sticker and reread the sentence. Compare whether the information becomes weaker or, conversely, whether the key points become clearer.
However, this method alone cannot predict the reader’s interpretation. As evidenced by the 34.7% discrepancy in interpretations, the author’s intention and the reader’s reaction often diverge.
There is another point to be careful about. The results of emoji research should not be directly applied to character stickers. The 2023 research primarily focused on social media posts and the quantity of emojis, and it did not directly experiment with character stickers within WordPress content.
It is also not possible to directly copy the research results.
Determine the acceptable range based on the purpose and location of the text.
X’s official style guide limits emojis to emphasis and says not to use them in place of words. It also advises against using them for serious or sensitive topics and breaking news.
- In breaking news and disaster/accident articles, character stickers are not used in the title or the body of the text.
- In health, legal, and financial articles, we do not embellish the core claims and supporting evidence.
- In professional knowledge blogs, elements such as final greetings or comments designed to encourage interaction should be limited to one or fewer and should not detract from the informational content.
- While these sections (postscripts, life hacks, and brand news) can be used for subjective opinions and tips, factual information and sources must always be clearly stated in text.
In a 2026 study, it was found that positive emojis were associated with higher competency ratings when used with positive or neutral sentences. Conversely, when used with negative sentences, the ratings were lower.
In a 2025 study on sticker usage, the fairness, satisfaction, and trust evaluations varied depending on the type of sticker and the relationship between the people involved. A single cute image cannot determine the relationship or the situation.
Therefore, the criterion is not the quantity.
The standard for news and professional content should not be “how many are acceptable,” but rather “whether it prioritizes information.” If the content is intended to be highly accurate, exclude any elements that might detract from that accuracy. If the content emphasizes community interaction, place such elements in a separate section, minimizing their impact on the core information.
For articles dealing with weighty subjects such as accidents, disasters, health, law, and finance, the first priority is to remove emojis from both the title and the body of the text. Even for specialized knowledge blogs, avoid using emojis in sections that explain the main arguments and supporting evidence. If necessary, limit the use of emojis to a maximum of one, and place them in a section separate from the information and judgment, such as in the closing remarks.
Conversely, for content that emphasizes community interaction, such as reviews, life hacks, or brand news, stickers can be used. However, factual information and sources must always be clearly stated in text, separate from any decorative elements.
Use DecoBlocks to divide space for decoration and information.
Whether to use stickers is at the editor’s discretion, but if they are used, it is easier to manage by separating information from decorative elements. In DecoBlocks, auxiliary explanations or instructions can be grouped using the “Section Box (Solid)” feature, and the “Divider Line – Solid” feature can be used to separate the area containing the main content and decorations. Quotations and sources can be presented in a separate format using the “Quote Box – Classic” feature.
For articles where decorative elements are inappropriate, such as those dealing with accidents, disasters, health, legal matters, or finance, the “Insert Character Sticker” feature should not be used. Instead, its use should be limited to areas unrelated to the main content, such as greetings or comment instructions. Both the block editor and the classic editor offer the same decorative features, allowing users to manage the placement of stickers, boxes, and dividers based on the purpose of the article.
In news and professional content, the problem with stickers stems not from their cuteness, but from the blurring of the line between information and decoration. Therefore, it is necessary to establish criteria that separate decorative elements from essential information, and to limit their use to auxiliary areas only when necessary.
DecoBlocks allows users to divide and utilize boxes, citation formats, dividers, and character stickers within WordPress posts. While tools do not replace the reader’s interpretation, they can be used to translate established editorial guidelines into the structure of a text.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Q. Do I need to remove all the stickers from a specialized knowledge blog?
A. It is not necessary to remove everything. To ensure safety, it is advisable to limit the number of such elements to one or fewer, focusing on avoiding sections that explain core arguments and evidence, and restricting them to areas intended for final remarks or calls for comments.
Q. Where should I place the stickers on my website?
A. If the text deals with subjects requiring accuracy and seriousness, such as accidents, disasters, health, legal matters, or finance, it is best to omit emoticons from both the title and the body of the text. If the text focuses on community aspects, such as reviews, life tips, or brand news, emoticons can be used sparingly, such as in the closing remarks or in sections unrelated to factual information.
Q. Can this problem be easily solved using a tool? What kind of tool should be used?
A. The tool cannot make judgments in place of the reader’s interpretation. First, compare the versions with and without the sticker, and select based on the purpose and placement of the text.
Q. How can I separate the sticker and the main text and arrange them separately?
A. First, determine the locations where stickers will not be placed, specifically in areas with key arguments and supporting evidence.
DecoBlocks’ Section Box (Solid) and Divider Line – Solid features can be used to separate supplementary content or final instructions from the main text, and Insert Character Stickers can be placed in designated areas when needed. However, the appropriate placement should be determined based on the subject of the text and the reader’s interpretation.
