If you’ve ever tried to understand what a “🤣” really means, or wondered why everyone’s suddenly using a “🥱” instead of a “😂,” you’re not alone. Emojis are everywhere—funny, confusing, and constantly changing. In 2025, American Millennials and Gen Z are more expressive than ever, and emojis are their favorite language.
So, what are the most popular emojis in 2025? Let’s break it down in a way that’s fun, simple, and super relatable.
Why Emojis Matter More Than Ever
In a world of quick messages and TikTok videos, people want to say more with less. Emojis are perfect for that. They help us show emotions, reactions, and even personalities.
Especially for Gen Z and Millennials, emojis are like digital body language. Whether it’s texting friends, commenting on memes, or reacting to a story, there’s always an emoji ready to go.
The Top 10 Emojis in 2025
Here are the most popular emojis this year among young Americans:
- 🥲 Smiling Face with Tear — The king of mixed feelings. Used when you’re laughing but you’re also crying inside. Perfect for awkward moments or emotional memes.
- 🫠 Melting Face — The unofficial emoji of being overwhelmed, embarrassed, or just done with everything. Extremely popular in group chats after a bad day.
- 💀 Skull — Not for Halloween anymore! Young people use it to say “I’m dying laughing” instead of using the classic 😂. The humor has gone dark, folks.
- 😭 Loudly Crying Face — Still going strong. Whether it’s real sadness or ironic overreaction, this emoji works great.
- 🫶 Heart Hands — A newer emoji that stands for love, support, and friendship. Super sweet in texts to close friends or family.
- ✨ Sparkles — Meant for excitement, magic, or showing off some glam! It turns an ordinary sentence into something ✨extra✨.
- 🤡 Clown Face — For all those embarrassing “I really texted them again?” moments. It’s a way to call yourself out before someone else does.
- 🧍 Person Standing — A meme favorite. It means awkwardness, standing there uselessly, or just “me right now.”
- 🚩 Red Flag — Often dropped in dating convos. If someone says “she doesn’t like dogs 🚩,” you know exactly what they mean.
- 🔥 Fire — The classic sign of approval and coolness. Still one of the top picks for hyping up someone’s selfie or dance video.
Each of these emojis has its own story, and they’ve taken over the internet in different ways.
Millennials vs. Gen Z: Emoji Habits Compared
Though both generations love emojis, they use them a bit differently.
- Millennials still cling to 😂, ❤️, and 👍. They use emojis more for friendly connection and warmth.
- Gen Z loves irony. They favor 💀, 🤡, and 🫠. For them, it’s about expressing sarcasm and realness.
Sometimes, Millennial emoji use feels a little too sincere to Gen Z. On the flip side, Gen Z’s dark humor can be confusing for older users.
New Emojis That Took Off In 2025
Each year, Unicode adds more emojis to fit our changing world. In 2025, a few newcomers became super popular:
- 🪻 Hyacinth Flower — Used to show peace, moods, or aesthetic vibes. A hit on mental health and nature posts.
- 🫃 Pregnant Man — Used in both serious and humorous ways. Often part of body positivity or gender conversation threads.
- 🫎 Moose — Not really emotional, but it became a meme somehow. Internet magic at work.
Even emojis no one thought we’d need have found a home among Gen Z joke formats and slang.
Where Are Emojis Being Used?
These days, emojis aren’t just for texting. They’re all over:
- Instagram captions and stories
- TikTok comments and hashtags
- Snapchat streak messages
- Twitter (now X) for memes and threads
Even professional platforms like LinkedIn see more 🙂 and 👏 these days. Emojis have officially gone mainstream.
The Rise of Emoji Combos
One emoji isn’t always enough. Now, people combine them to tell mini stories or express bigger feelings.
Some super popular combos include:
- 💀😭🤣 — Beyond funny. Dead. Crying. Laughing. All at once.
- ✨🙄✨ — The fancy way of saying “suuuure, whatever.”
- 👁️👄👁️ — The “I’m staring awkwardly but also emotionally stunned” face.
Emoji combos are like a new art form. Especially in TikTok captions and comment sections, they help young people reach peak expression.
Emojis That Fell Out of Style
Not every emoji stands the test of time. Some got a little too cringey.
Here are a few that Millennials may still love, but Gen Z has canceled:
- 😂 Face with Tears of Joy – Overused. Now seen as outdated.
- 👍 Thumbs Up – Feels too serious—almost passive-aggressive sometimes.
- ❤️ Red Heart – Replaced by 💖, 💜, or 🫶 for a softer vibe.
- 😜 Winking Face with Tongue – Feels very 2014. Most people just don’t use it anymore.
If you still use these in 2025, prepare for some gentle roasting in the group chat.
Emojis = Personality
Believe it or not, your favorite emoji says a lot about you.
- If you use 💀 a lot, you probably live for memes and sarcasm.
- If 🫶 is your go-to, you might be the softie in your friend group.
- People who love ✨ tend to make everything feel like magic.
More than just icons, emojis have become identity markers. They show your mood, your humor, and your style.
The Future of Emojis
As language keeps evolving, emojis will too. Maybe next year we’ll see even more inclusive faces, new emotion symbols, or even animated emojis.
One thing is for sure: Gen Z and Millennials will keep finding cool, clever, and hilarious ways to use them. Emojis are here to stay—and they’re only getting better.
Final Thoughts
In 2025, American Millennials and Gen Z are all about using emojis that show realness, humor, and personality. From 💀 to 🫠, every emoji now carries layers of meaning.
So next time you type out a message, ask yourself—what’s your emoji vibe today?