Ever wondered about the emoji choices of your friends or younger cousins? Emojis like 
and 
might seem puzzling. Here’s a guide to understanding these emoji trends:
and might seem puzzling. Here’s a guide to understanding these emoji trends:1. and 
: While these might traditionally suggest a ghoulish or mournful tone, Gen Z uses them to express laughter. often means “I’m laughing so hard I’m dead,” sometimes with a sarcastic twist. indicates “I’m laughing despite finding it cringe-worthy,” similar to a mental breakdown.
and : While these might traditionally suggest a ghoulish or mournful tone, Gen Z uses them to express laughter. often means “I’m laughing so hard I’m dead,” sometimes with a sarcastic twist. indicates “I’m laughing despite finding it cringe-worthy,” similar to a mental breakdown.2. 
: What used to signify romance now serves as a simple acknowledgment on Instagram. It is frequently used as a default response due to the double-tap feature, though some users may change it. Among millennials, it also expresses admiration and appreciation.
: What used to signify romance now serves as a simple acknowledgment on Instagram. It is frequently used as a default response due to the double-tap feature, though some users may change it. Among millennials, it also expresses admiration and appreciation.3. 
: No longer just a symbol for coffee, this emoji now represents “tea,” slang for gossip or drama. It’s commonly used to highlight content about gender stereotypes or to comment on common themes in a gender’s feed.
: No longer just a symbol for coffee, this emoji now represents “tea,” slang for gossip or drama. It’s commonly used to highlight content about gender stereotypes or to comment on common themes in a gender’s feed.4.: Known as the NPC emoji, this stands for “non-playable character” in video games. When used, it implies that someone is unoriginal or predictable, often as an insult.
: Known as the NPC emoji, this stands for “non-playable character” in video games. When used, it implies that someone is unoriginal or predictable, often as an insult.5. 
: This Easter Island head emoji might seem random, but in Gen Z lingo, it’s a compliment. It suggests that someone is cool or “sigma,” often due to perceived facial attractiveness or jawline definition, following trends like “mewing.”
: This Easter Island head emoji might seem random, but in Gen Z lingo, it’s a compliment. It suggests that someone is cool or “sigma,” often due to perceived facial attractiveness or jawline definition, following trends like “mewing.”6. 
: What seems like a happy face can actually signal irritation. If someone sends this emoji, it often means they are on their last nerve, so proceed with caution.
: What seems like a happy face can actually signal irritation. If someone sends this emoji, it often means they are on their last nerve, so proceed with caution.7. 
: Once a sign of being smart or brilliant, this emoji is now sometimes used as an insult. It implies that someone is overly studious or geeky to the point that they don’t understand social cues, though context and tone are crucial, as it might be used jokingly among friends.
: Once a sign of being smart or brilliant, this emoji is now sometimes used as an insult. It implies that someone is overly studious or geeky to the point that they don’t understand social cues, though context and tone are crucial, as it might be used jokingly among friends.8. 
: While traditionally associated with humour or oddity as seen with clowns, Gen Z uses this emoji to denote self-sabotage or embarrassment. It reflects the idea of clowns, who often make fools of themselves to entertain others.
: While traditionally associated with humour or oddity as seen with clowns, Gen Z uses this emoji to denote self-sabotage or embarrassment. It reflects the idea of clowns, who often make fools of themselves to entertain others.9. 
or 
: These emojis indicate dissociation from a conversation. suggests “I’m opting out of this discussion,” while implies “This conversation has become overwhelming, and I’m slowly disengaging.”
or : These emojis indicate dissociation from a conversation. suggests “I’m opting out of this discussion,” while implies “This conversation has become overwhelming, and I’m slowly disengaging.”10. 
: This emoji is used to add a touch of glamour or quirkiness to otherwise unusual or dark concepts. It’s a way of making something seem more aesthetic or intriguing.
: This emoji is used to add a touch of glamour or quirkiness to otherwise unusual or dark concepts. It’s a way of making something seem more aesthetic or intriguing.
