Emotional Intelligence: Inbox Emotions, Outbox Blast: A Study on Youth Gangs of Bangladesh

In the digital communication era, emotional intelligence (EI) plays a crucial role in how individuals manage, interpret, and express emotions through mediated platforms. The metaphors ‘Inbox Emotions’ and ‘Outbox Blast’ describe the internal emotional processing and external emotional expression, respectively. This paper investigates the dynamic interplay between these emotional flows in email, messaging apps, and social media communications, highlighting how EI moderates digital emotional exchanges. Drawing on psychological, communication, and sociotechnical theories, the article explores how mismanagement of EI leads to conflict, misunderstanding, and emotional contagion in digital spaces. Through mixed methods including content analysis and interviews, this research finds that high-EI individuals demonstrate better emotional regulation, leading to constructive dialogues, while low-EI individuals tend to react impulsively—creating an ‘Outbox Blast’ effect. The article concludes with policy recommendations for digital emotional literacy and emotional hygiene training in academic and organizational settings.