You don’t need us to tell you that emoji are popular. 😂 Like, really popular.
For most of us, a text or social media post just feels empty without an emoji (or 10). Interestingly, even in the world of emoji, though, you have trends and fads that result in some emoji getting more attention than others.
So we wondered: which emoji are currently trendy—and why? What new uses have been reported? Although we are not yet officially recognized as emoji-ologists (maybe someday…), we’re sharing our analysis with you now.
Skull emoji 💀
Obviously, the Skull emoji 💀 is not new. In fact, it is a relatively old emoji and has been around since 2010. However, there is a popular new use of the Skull emoji 💀 that is worth talking about. Younger texters and social media users rely on the Skull emoji 💀 to express intense laughter, mimicking the use of the Rolling on the Floor Laughing emoji 🤣 and the Face with Tears of Joy emoji 😂.
It’s worth noting the Rolling on the Floor Laughing emoji 🤣 became the second most popular emoji recently, based on analysis by Emojipedia, and the Face with Tears of Joy emoji 😂 has been the top dog for basically forever. Is the Skull 💀 emoji eyeing the throne and planning the usurpation of emoji royalty? It’s far too early to say right now, but skull-shaped clouds may be forming over the tranquil land of the emoji kingdom.
idk why yt does a countdown if you can't skip the ad lmao 💀
— | hope you know that somebody ain't me ⛓️ (@hairmetal) December 8, 2023
Do you know what these Gen Z slang terms mean—and where they really come from?
Melting Face emoji 🫠
With the Skull emoji 💀 out of the way, the rest of our list will be dominated by smileys. First up is the Melting Face emoji 🫠. This emoji is proving to be very versatile and seeing lots of use in many different contexts. For example, it is commonly used to express extreme embarrassment, frustration, exasperation, laziness, and confusion. In addition to that, it is also used to refer to extreme heat. This emoji can do a lot of jobs, and this flexibility is really helping see its stock continue to climb.
The Melting Face emoji 🫠 is also a good example of a trend that will continue in our list. With some notable exceptions, people seem to gravitate toward newer emoji. The Face with Rolling Eyes emoji 🙄 or the Grimacing Face emoji 😬 have let us express feelings of cringe and exasperation in the past, but the Melting Face emoji 🫠 is so much newer and shinier. None of the emoji on this list should be complacent—some newer emoji could swoop in to steal their spotlight in the future!
Why does it have to be this way as a Dallas sports fan 🫠 just why
— Josue Isai Hernandez (@josuedtx77) October 21, 2023
Dotted Line Face emoji 🫥
For good reason, the Dotted Line Face emoji 🫥 is next. This one often appears together with the Melting Face emoji 🫠, and the two emoji have a lot of overlap in usage. Like the Melting Face emoji 🫠, the Dotted Line Face emoji 🫥 is often used to express strong negative emotions: embarrassment, frustration, disgust, awkwardness, and exasperation, just to name a few. This is often the emoji people go to when they want to just… disappear.
why is this week so long 🫥
— jay 📚 (@sseungradish) December 13, 2023
Saluting Face emoji 🫡
At ease, soldier! The Saluting Face emoji 🫡 will help us take a break from frustrating and depressing emotions. This emoji is used when people are feeling enthusiastic or motivated. It is also often used to show support, agreement, or that someone is ready to help out. Like many emoji, though, the Saluting Face emoji 🫡 can be used sarcastically to indicate someone isn’t quite as enthusiastic as they let on.
Didn’t sleep but ready to tackle the day and work week. Hope everyone has a great day and week 🫡
— Bud Fox (@Howard_WBZ) December 18, 2023
Heart Hands emoji 🫶
Ready for a break from smiley emoji? Let’s look at the Heart Hands emoji 🫶, which recreates a gesture that’s been popular for a while. Heart emoji have always been pretty popular, and the Heart Hands emoji 🫶 is no different. This newest kid on the block is getting all the attention right now. The actual gesture and the emoji depicting it are popular among certain fandoms, such as Swifties and fans of K-pop. But it has fans all over the place! You’ll often see it used to express love and support for something that someone keeps near and dear to their heart.
Real Madrid is the best team in the world 🫶 love you Madrid ❤️😌
— HER✨❤️💰🦋 (@Nikkinanaama_) December 17, 2023
Smiling Face with Hearts emoji 🥰
Speaking of hearts, we have the Smiling Face with Hearts emoji 🥰. This one’s been around a little while, but it has shown impressive results recently. According to some calculations, the Smiling Face with Hearts emoji 🥰 found itself just outside of the top five most popular smileys in 2023. Considering how old and popular many smiley emoji are, this is a commendable showing for an emoji that has only been around since 2018.
Like most of the emoji on this list, the Smiling Face with Hearts emoji 🥰 can be used passive aggressively. However, it tends to be a more wholesome emoji used to express love, happiness, and affection for cute things.
I’m adopting kittens today!! 🥰
— daii @ cereza’s house✨ (@marsabellla) March 11, 2023
Face with Diagonal Mouth emoji 🫤
The Face with Diagonal Mouth emoji 🫤 is yet another emoji people use when they are exasperated. (Hmm… is that a common occurrence on social media?) When people can’t believe what they have heard or are at a loss for words, the Face with Diagonal Mouth emoji 🫤 is ready to go. This emoji is a popular pick when people are faced with extreme levels of failure, cringe, or nonsense. At the same time, this is a great emoji to express feelings of confusion, bewilderment, and disgust. This is definitely an emoji you really don’t want to see when people are reacting to something you’ve just said or posted online.
Why does school attendance matter if I do the work at home 🫤
— b ♈️🩷 (@biancaaajordynn) December 11, 2023
Face Holding Back Tears emoji 🥹
Our list is almost over, so we are trying not to cry 🥹. The Face Holding Back Tears emoji 🥹 is actually a versatile emoji that is more than it originally appears. Of course, it is often used when people see something sad that makes them (nearly) shed a tear. However, it is a popular emoji to use when describing something really happy, too. Lastly, the Face Holding Back Tears emoji 🥹 often shows up when someone encounters something really cute or adorable.
Interestingly, all of these uses overlap with those of the Loudly Crying Face emoji 😭. Now, the Face Holding Back Tears emoji 🥹 has a heck of a mountain to climb if it ever wants to reach the popularity of that particular emoji. That being said, the Face Holding Back Tears emoji 🥹 is showing up a lot these days, so it definitely has momentum on its side.
I'm starting a series on TikTok ft some of Ghana's most exciting female creatives and I'm so excited 🥹
— 🦋 Billboard Moliy (@moliymusic) December 19, 2023
