| The use of emojis as a language component in online communication has grown significantly in both frequency and functional diversity. Emojis are no longer merely decorative part of language but are now used to enhance the meaning of sentences. Combined with other language components, such as words or punctuations, they provide an emotional layer often absent in online interactions. However, in the absence of gestures and body language, emojis can also lead to misinterpretation, particularly when users lack awareness of their meanings or when cultural and contextual differences are present. This study aims to classify sentences used in a WhatsApp group based on Halliday’s metafunctions— Ideational, Interpersonal, and Textual—to analyze how they contribute to the interpretation of emojis. Additionally, it examines how emojis help maintain social relationships and mitigate criticism in daily communication. The research employs a qualitative approach, drawing on Halliday’s metafunctions and Logi and Zappavigna's social semiotic approach. Findings reveal that emojis realize meanings in metafunctions in WhatsApp group conversations as described in the theory of Systemic Functional Language, and emojis are frequently employed to soften criticism and mitigate criticism in daily communication. |