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Most of us use them several times a day: emojis. Whether in a chat message to friends, on social media, or even in an email, these little yellow faces have become an integral part of our everyday lives. They help us express joy, irony, surprise, or compassion—often faster than words can.
In previous blog posts, we have already looked at the history of emojis. But this time we want to know: Which emojis do we actually like best and which ones do we dislike? Is it the classic laughing face with tears 😂 that accompanies every other conversation? Or does the red heart ❤️ come out on top?
Which Emojis Are Particularly Popular?
A study conducted by Ruhr University Bochum and Berlin’s Charité hospital in 2024 shows which emojis people in Germany use most frequently – and which ones are used less often.
The most popular emojis:
- The laughing face with tears:😂
- Rolling on the floor laughing:🤣
- The winking smiley:😉
The least popular emojis:
- The horrified face:😦
- The face in clouds:️️️😶🌫️
- The face with a dotted line:🫥
Emojis that express positive or humorous emotions are therefore used significantly more often than those with more negative or ambiguous meanings.
This is also shown by an emoji ranking from 2021 published by the Unicode Consortium. Back then, the face with tears of laughter also took first place. However, it was followed in second place by the red heart, followed by the emoji rolling on the floor laughing.
Emojis: Not Always Clear
Although emojis were originally developed to make digital communication clearer and more emotional, their meaning can quickly be misunderstood. This is because not everyone interprets emojis in the same way. It often happens that an emoji has a completely different effect on the person you are communicating with than you originally intended.
A good example of this is the slightly smiling face: 🙂. While some perceive it as friendly and neutral, others find it passive-aggressive or ironic.
Emojis are practical, entertaining, and have become an integral part of digital communication. But they are not always unambiguous. So next time you choose an emoji, it’s worth taking a moment to consider: Will it be understood by the other person in the same way you intend it?
Want to learn more about emojis? Find out more in our articles The Evolution of Emojis Part 1 and Part 2.
Responsible for the content of this article is Hannah Loock.
The following sources served as the basis for this article:
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