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The “loudly crying face” emoji is now the most popular emoji in the world.
It jumped from fourth place in 2024 to capture the top spot globally, according to data released by The New York Times. The findings are based on an anonymous sample of approximately 665 million emojis used worldwide through Gboard, Google’s virtual keyboard application for Android devices. This surge pushed past traditional mainstays like the red heart, the face with tears of joy, and the rolling on the floor laughing emoji.
How Younger Generations Are Rewriting Digital Lexicon
According to analysis by The New York Times, the shift is driven by younger generations changing how they deploy expressive symbols in digital communication. Emojis that long dominated casual messaging, such as the face with tears of joy and rolling on the floor laughing, are increasingly viewed by younger users as overused.
Meanwhile, the symbol commonly recognized as the crying face has evolved from a strict indicator of sorrow into a versatile multi-purpose reaction.
The New Multi-Purpose Reaction for Extreme Humor
Users now deploy the crying face icon when situations turn exceptionally funny, heartwarming, embarrassing, or overwhelming. Instead of responding to a humorous message with standard laughter symbols, younger demographics frequently substitute the crying face. The underlying emotion remains amusement, but the chosen graphic has shifted entirely.
Did you know?
According to data from The New York Times, the global top five emoji ranking for 2025 places the crying face first, followed by rolling on the floor laughing in second, face with tears of joy in third, the red heart in fourth, and folded hands in fifth place.
Cultural Reach and Regional Use of Folded Hands
Ranking fifth globally, the folded hands symbol holds strong familiarity across various regional markets, including Indonesia. According to platform data, users leverage this icon for multiple social functions, ranging from expressing gratitude and asking for assistance to offering apologies. In specific regional chat groups, it frequently accompanies formal acknowledgement phrases.
Mid-Tier Fluctuations and the Rise of Nuance
Further down the global rankings, the face blowing a kiss secured the sixth position, dropping one spot compared to its fifth-place standing in 2024. Despite minor fluctuations among mid-tier reactions, the dominance of hyper-expressive symbols reflects an ongoing evolution in how text-based communities convey nuance and irony without relying on traditional punctuation.
Pro Tip:
When communicating across different age groups in professional or casual messaging spaces, pay attention to shifting emoji conventions. Symbols that once signaled grief or distress are frequently adopted by modern digital natives to denote intense amusement or relatable embarrassment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the most popular emoji globally?
According to The New York Times, the loudly crying face ranked as the most popular emoji in the world.
What data source was used for this ranking?
The findings are based on an anonymous sample of approximately 665 million emojis used worldwide through Gboard, Google’s keyboard application.
Why did younger users change their emoji habits?
According to analysis by The New York Times, traditional laughing symbols started to be viewed as overused, leading younger users to adopt the crying face as a versatile reaction for extreme humor or emotional moments.
Where did the folded hands emoji land on the list?
The folded hands symbol secured the fifth position globally.
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