There’s no better day to check into the state of emoji than World Emoji Day, celebrated every year on July 17. There’s a new most popular one this year, though the top five stayed consistent. And the top 20 also boasts a new entry you should be aware of.
It’s wise to know the meaning of the most popular so you’re not confused when someone sends you a 🗿.
The most popular emoji in 2023
Emoji are more than fun — they serve a useful purpose. They add context to our instant messages and emails in situations where text alone might not be clear enough. A 😀 Grinning Face lets your friend know you’re teasing them, not issuing a deadly insult.
Facemoji compiled a list of the most popular emoji used on its alternative keyboard for iPhone and Android between June 2022 and June 2023. And it seems people have something new to cry about —- 😂 Face with Tears of Joy was at the top of the 2022 list but has now been replaced with 😭 Loudly Crying Face.
Even so, there’s still a lot of laughing going on. 🤣 Rolling on the Floor Laughing is in the No. 2 spot in 2023, and No. 3 is Face with Tears of Joy.
All three made Facemoji’s top five list of most-popular emoji in 2022. ❤️ Red Heart and 🥹 Face Holding Back Tears also made the top five both years.
These perennially popular emoji are the ones everyone should know because they’re the most likely to show up in IMs, texts and emails.
Some surprises this year
Graphic: Facemoji
A couple of surprises show up in the full list of the top 20 most popular emoji over the last year.
The 🗿Moai emoji is having its time in the sun at No. 13 on the list. This doesn’t mean huge crowds of people are descending on Easter Island, the home of the moai. Instead, Dictionary.com tells us, “Use of the moai emoji is usually meant to imply strength or determination, and it’s also used frequently in Japanese pop-culture posts.”
Also, Facemoji explained the other standout by saying, “Lionel Messi finally winning gold in the 2022 World Cup was a moment felt around the world, and it pushed 🇦🇷 Argentina’s flag all the way to the top 20.”
Avoid these emoji
As always, not every emoji is a good choice. No one seems to know what 💁♀️ Woman Tipping Hand means. Use it and you’ll mostly just confuse people. The same holds true for a collection of the other most befuddling emoji.
In addition, Emojipedia compiled a list of the emoji that people most frequently look up in its dictionary. While that doesn’t automatically mean people don’t understand what these signify, maybe use caution with some of them. The meaning of the 💀 Skull emoji isn’t always clear, for instance.
