Why 😭 Overtook 😂 as the #1 Emoji in 2025

Something historic happened in the emoji world: 😭 Loudly Crying Face dethroned 😂 Face with Tears of Joy as the most used emoji on the planet. After years of 😂 dominating social media, a seismic shift occurred in 2024 that continued into 2025.

In this article, we'll dive into the data, explore why this happened, and what it tells us about how we communicate online. Check out our TOP 100 Most Popular Emojis for the complete ranking!

📊 The Data: A Historic Shift

According to data from Meltwater, Brandwatch, and Emojipedia, 😭 accumulated over 814 million social media mentions from January to December 2024, continuing strong into 2025. This represents a dramatic shift from previous years:

🤔 Why Did This Happen?

Several factors contributed to this emoji revolution:

1. Gen Z Changed the Meaning

For Gen Z, 😭 doesn't primarily mean sadness — it means "I'm dead," "that's so funny," or "I can't handle this." It's become the go-to emoji for expressing overwhelming emotions of any kind, not just sadness.

Meanwhile, 😂 has been declared "cheugy" (outdated) by younger users. Using it can signal that you're older or out of touch with current internet culture. Want to understand more emoji nuances? Check our Emoji Meanings Guide.

2. Emotional Intensity

😭 expresses more intense emotion than 😂. In an era of increasingly hyperbolic online communication, the more dramatic emoji wins. "That's funny" becomes "I'M LITERALLY DEAD 😭😭😭"

3. Versatility

While 😂 mainly means "laughing," 😭 works in many contexts:

• Something hilarious → 😭
• Something cute → 😭
• Something overwhelming → 😭
• Actual sadness → 😭
• Frustration → 😭

🌍 Regional Differences

Interestingly, emoji preferences vary by country. Here's what the data shows for 2025:

The UK and Nigeria still prefer the classic 😂, while India has made 🔥 their favorite — likely due to its popularity in Bollywood fan communities and cricket celebrations!

📱 Platform Differences

Emoji usage also varies by platform. According to our analysis for the TOP 100 ranking:

• Twitter/X: 😭 dominates (25.4% share), followed by 🔥 (22%)
• YouTube: ❤️ is #1 (comment culture favors hearts)
• Pinterest: ✨ leads (aesthetic content)
• Reddit: 😭 and 😂 are neck-and-neck
• Sina Weibo: ⭐ is most popular

🔥 Other Rising Emojis

While 😭 took the crown, several other emojis showed strong growth in 2025:

• 🔥 Fire — Surged in crypto, music, and sports content
• ✨ Sparkles — #1 for professional and aesthetic posts
• ✅ Check Mark — Rose with productivity culture
• 💀 Skull — Gen Z's alternative to 😂 ("I'm dead")
• 🫶 Heart Hands — Newest emoji with rapid adoption

Explore all the trending emojis and see what's hot right now!

🎯 What This Means for You

If you're creating content, marketing, or just want to stay relevant online, here's what to know:

1. Context matters: 😭 now often means "hilarious" not "sad"
2. Know your audience: Older users still prefer 😂
3. Platform awareness: Use ❤️ more on YouTube, 🔥 on Twitter
4. Don't overdo it: Authentic emoji use beats forced trends

🔮 What's Next?

Will 😭 maintain its throne? Based on current trends, it's likely to remain #1 through 2025. However, keep an eye on:

• 💀 Skull — Growing as another "I'm dead" alternative
• 🫶 Heart Hands — Rapidly adopted since its 2022 release
• New 2024 emojis — Including 🙂‍↕️ Head Shaking Vertically

Emoji trends reflect how we communicate and what we value. The rise of 😭 shows our preference for emotional intensity and versatility in digital expression.

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• The Fascinating History of Kaomoji