Main sources 
Most popular source of mentions was Twitter.
Sample mentions ¯_(ツ)_/¯:
On the 22th May we collected all mentions with ¯_(ツ)_/¯ symbol. About 12% of them included opinions about trending emoji and the majority of Internet users consider it cool and useful. However, comments with ¯_(ツ)_/¯ are usually with a negative or indifferent tone. Main meanings of this emoticon are:
- I don’t care
- I don’t know
- Whatever
Even companies take the trend up. Here is the example of Denny’s:
— Denny’s (@DennysDiner) maj 21, 2014
Average number of interactions with Denny’s Twitter per post within one week: 627
Number of interactions with the Twit depicted above: 4423
Increase: 700%
Carmex:
When someone asks to borrow your #Carmex, how many of you just ¯_(ツ)_/¯ and move on? pic.twitter.com/dqctLY144h — Carmex (@Carmex) May 22, 2014
…and some other sample mentions:
Ok I think i’m going to agree with mainstream here and declare that this emoji is cool! ¯_(ツ)_/¯ — Justin Johns (@Justin_Johns) May 22, 2014
If you’ve used this emoji in the past week, give us a big #whateva!!¯_(ツ)_/¯ http://t.co/7bhQ3mmbwW — Brandon Snider (@cfmbrandon) May 22, 2014
Just spent 10 minutes adding shruggie to my keyboard shortcuts. Time well spent, my friends. #¯_(ツ)_/¯ — Jess (@jessicaanngilly) May 22, 2014
It’s not just about smug shrug ¯_(ツ)_/¯ While that emoji is famous. Don’t forget about these emojis, Internet. — Southern Comfort (@southerncomfort) May 22, 2014
My reaction when someone asks me about directions : ¯_(ツ)_/¯ #awesomeEmoji — Navneet Singh (@tweet_navneet) May 22, 2014
Some people have to Google “¯_(ツ)_/¯” to type it out. I just go to @AnniesPerson‘s feed and scroll back at most three tweets. — Hayes Brown (@HayesBrown) May 22, 2014
Me too @jhermann I guess I just stopped caring about ¯_(ツ)_/¯ when I discovered ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ — Cosmina Sipos (@CosminaSipos) May 22, 2014
This is the best lil emoji don’t even fuckin try to tell me differently ¯_(ツ)_/¯ — emily (@xemilytuccix) May 22, 2014
I really don’t know y I am tweeting this ¯_(ツ)_/¯ , but just because #shruggie is trending ¯_(ツ)_/¯ I have to do this 😀 — Abhishek Sharma (@_abhisharma) May 22, 2014
hehe. I love the ¯_(ツ)_/¯ And no, I’ve never used it before now. So cute. A little smug. The era of the #smugshrug is upon us. Watch out. — Chandrima Chatterjee (@chandrimatweets) May 22, 2014
Well, here’s my first justified use of “¯_(ツ)_/¯” http://t.co/kFLIEhrC5O — Benjamin Freed (@brfreed) May 22, 2014
¯_(ツ)_/¯ is definitely the defining symbol of my life (for now). — Joel Leeman (@jtleeman) May 22, 2014
¯_(ツ)_/¯ hahahahha suckers i just copy pasted the shruggy guy from someone else now i have it forever — brigid j barry (@brigidjb) May 23, 2014
@sindhura_akella haha! I am in love with this ¯_(ツ)_/¯ signifies my life right now! Donno what’s happening. But happy! :p — vishaln_n_n (@vishaln_n_n) May 22, 2014
¯_(ツ)_/¯ The normcore of the internet. Or something. http://t.co/hp6VOSoCNm — Paul Papadimitriou (@papadimitriou) May 23, 2014
Things I’m barely tolerating on the Internet today: BuzzFeed quizzes, #tbt, and whatever the hell this is ¯_(ツ)_/¯ — Jim Sabataso (@JimSabataso) May 22, 2014
Fuck all you fuckers using this symbol. It’s offensive. I can’t move my arms like this ¯_(ツ)_/¯ — A Cat Named Bitches (@BitchestheCat) May 22, 2014
Every time I tell someone I have a standing desk at work and they say, “That sounds terrible!” I’m just like ¯_(ツ)_/¯ — MichaelAlanConnelly (@malanconnelly) May 22, 2014
I don’t even have the desire to talk to anyone today ¯_(ツ)_/¯ — corrie✌️ (@letsfrickfrack) May 23, 2014
I really dont care where was she at when I fell ¯_(ツ)_/¯ RT @iamne_ne: @takeonthestorm honestly…. #assholeproblems pic.twitter.com/eLZmGgHxZ3 — The Young God (@takeonthestorm) May 22, 2014
I was like ¯_(ツ)_/¯ … I don’t know. But keep your mouth shut. — Corey Cline (@CaptainCorey_) May 22, 2014
My dad just called me out on having a boner in front of my family. Sorry you had a boy mom and dad ¯_(ツ)_/¯ — Ian Lowe (@WiffleLowe) May 22, 2014
OMG how did I just find out that MY MOM IS FOLLOWING ME ON TWITTER Ugh now she knows about my sex life. ¯_(ツ)_/¯ — Nicole (@_nmhr) May 23, 2014
Sample mentions ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ:
We found much less mentions with ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ (6 times less than with ¯_(ツ)_/¯) on the same date. All comments are definitely with a positive sentiment. Here are some sample mentions:
ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ this emoticon made my day a little better tbh — Marijuanallama (@Marijuanallama) May 23, 2014
@desnarose Funny you should post that. I’m going to the dentist tomorrow. I’m so excited! ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ — Orochi Oni (@Orochi_Oni) May 22, 2014
its friday today ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ — 26 days (@prospitkind) May 23, 2014
My mood today: ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ — Dallin Hitchcock (@dallin) May 22, 2014
So today your supose to feel ¯_(ツ)_/¯ … But Im more ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ Yaaay! #HappyHappyJoyJoy — Roberto Garcia (@ImRoberto) May 22, 2014
Conclusions:
- ¯_(ツ)_/¯ is definitely more popular than ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ – at average six times more mentions with shruggie,
- emoji increases the number of interactions,
- social media users enthusiastically perceive entries with emojis.
