Laughing Emoji 😂

😂

Click to copy · Unicode: U+1F602 · Most Popular Emoji

What Does the Laughing Emoji Mean?

The laughing emoji 😂, officially called "Face with Tears of Joy," is the most popular emoji in the world. It shows a yellow face with tightly closed eyes streaming tears while grinning widely. This emoji expresses:

Extreme laughter: Something is incredibly funny
Uncontrollable amusement: Laughing so hard you're crying
Joy and happiness: Expressing pure delight
Humorous situations: Reacting to comedy or funny content
Internet culture: The universal symbol for "LOL" or "ROFL"

Why Is 😂 So Popular?

🏆 Word of the Year 2015

Oxford Dictionaries named the Face with Tears of Joy emoji as the 2015 Word of the Year, making it the first emoji to receive this honor. It represented the way we communicate in the digital age.

📊 Usage Statistics

According to Unicode data, 😂 accounts for over 5% of all emoji usage worldwide. It's consistently the #1 emoji on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and most messaging platforms.

🌍 Universal Understanding

Unlike many emojis that can be culturally specific, the tears of joy emoji is universally understood across languages and cultures as expressing intense laughter.

How to Use the Laughing Emoji

✅ Perfect Uses

Reacting to funny content

"That video was hilarious 😂😂😂"

Sharing jokes

"Why did the chicken cross the road? 😂"

Laughing at yourself

"I just locked myself out again 😂"

⚠️ Generational Differences

Important note: Gen Z often perceives 😂 as outdated or cringe. Younger users prefer:

💀 (skull emoji) - "I'm dead" from laughing
😭 (loudly crying) - used ironically for laughter
Simple "lol" or "lmao" without emojis

If communicating with Gen Z, consider using 💀 instead to appear more current.

History and Evolution

2010 - Unicode 6.0

First introduced as part of Unicode 6.0

2015 - Word of the Year

Oxford Dictionaries recognizes its cultural impact

2017 - Peak Popularity

Becomes the most-used emoji globally across all platforms

2021+ - Gen Z Shift

Younger generations begin using alternative emojis like 💀

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 😂 still popular?

Yes, 😂 remains the most-used emoji overall, though younger generations (Gen Z) tend to prefer skull emoji 💀 or crying face 😭 instead.

What's the difference between 😂 and 🤣?

Both express laughter. 😂 (Face with Tears of Joy) is more commonly used. 🤣 (Rolling on the Floor Laughing) suggests even more intense laughter, equivalent to "ROFL."