These Are CNET's Favorite and Most-Used Emoji. Did Yours Make the List?
The rules for voting were simple: You could only vote once for your favorite emoji and once for your most-used emoji. There was more variety in the category of favorite emoji since individual tastes are subjective, while there was more homogeneity among most used emoji -- not surprising in a work environment. But smileys dominated both lists, making up over half of the selections for favorite emoji and just under half of the selections for most used emoji.
Yes, I voted in the poll, and, no, my creative genius didn't top either of our lists.
So without further ado, here are some of CNET's favorite and most used emoji and what those emoji mean.
2 emoji were tied for our favorite, and the vibe is 'everything's fine'
CNET staffers' favorite emoji include the melting face and heart hands emoji.
Emojipedia
There were two emoji that came on top for the favorite emoji at CNET. The 🫠 melting face and 😬 grimacing face each had about 10% of the vote, making them the two favorite emoji of CNET staffers.
According to Emojipedia, melting face can be used for sarcasm or to convey a sense of embarrassment or a slowly sinking sense of dread.
"Melting smiley face is just a perfect encapsulation of when you're on the verge of a meltdown from things going awry but you have to keep smiling through it all," said CNET Editor-at-Large Bridget Carey, who voted for the melting face. "It's just a delightfully cartoonish expression when I'm juggling too many things as a working parent and there's chaos in the world, because when everything feels like it's failing, I just want to laugh through it."
And the grimacing face can be used for nervousness or awkwardness, as well as other negative or tense emotions.
"New tariffs? ICE raids? Layoffs? The grimacing emoji is here to say 'people really didn't think this through' and 'way to pour gasoline on a fire' all in brief unicode," said CNET senior writer David Lumb, who voted for the grimacing face emoji. "The grimacing emoji reflects all this totality with unflinching acknowledgment -- a 'well, this might as well happen' that's ambiguous enough to cover a lot of situations."
That means CNET's two favorite emoji can be used to convey negative emotions. Does that mean we're all struggling with feelings of nervousness at any given time, or always anxious? I can't speak for everyone on staff, but I'm my anxiety is through the roof right now.
Screenshot by Zachary McAuliffe/CNET
Some people really surprised me with their favorite emoji
The grimacing emoji is one of the favorite emoji among CNET staffers.
While most favorite emoji were smileys, there were a few votes that seemed unusual. I'm thinking in particular of the two people who responded that their favorite emoji was the 🧌 troll and 💺 seat emoji.
The troll emoji can refer to an internet troll or trolling someone, so I understand and appreciate the usage there. But some people see this emoji as more than just trolling around.
"There's something about his generally unhinged yet whimsical design that feels perfectly applicable to any interaction," said CNET Analyst Ellen Nelson, who voted for the troll emoji. "He's me on a Monday morning or a sarcastic response to my friends' ridiculous texts. I love his awkward grin and unruly hair paired with an all-powerful wooded scepter."
I agree with Nelson. Who hasn't felt the way this troll looks on a Monday or on the first day back to work from a long vacation?
And the seat emoji is… well, it's just a seat, but it can mean more to certain people.
"I love the seat emoji because to me it represents travel!" said CNET Senior Producer Wesley Ott, who voted for the seat emoji. "I'm not sure whether it is a train, plane or something else, but boy, does that seat look comfortable."
The good news is that Ott's right on the money. Emojipedia says the term "seat" can refer to a fixed seat on mass transit, like a bus or plane seat. At the end of the day, Ott's right; it sure does look like a comfy seat.
CNET's most-used emoji shows how versatile emoji can be
The folded hands emoji was voted the most used emoji by the CNET staff.
Emojipedia
While there was a tie for favorite emoji at CNET, one emoji received about 20% of the votes for most-used emoji, and that is the 🙏 folded hands emoji. While this emoji can be understood to mean prayer, it can also be interpreted in other ways.
A common meaning of the folded hands emoji is as a stand-in for a high five. According to Emojipedia, this understanding of the emoji started on Twitter around January 2012 before taking off in earnest more than a year later in July 2013. However, some early designs of the emoji included rays of light behind the hands or people bowing with their hands clasped together in prayer.
The folded hands emoji has also been used at times to connote someone begging or requesting something. And in some cases this emoji has been used to say "thank you," as exemplified in this cat gif.
Importantly, neither of these understandings of the folded hands emoji are wrong. Language -- and by extension emoji -- is an ever-evolving thing. Which is great, because I'll continue to use the emoji to mean a high-five and you can't stop me.
Screenshot by Zachary McAuliffe/CNET
CNET staffers ❤️ our heart emoji
Emojipedia
Besides the prevalence of smileys across favorite and most used emoji, I also noticed that heart-related emojis were the second most represented emoji overall.
The 💜 purple heart and 🫶 heart hands emoji both had votes as people's favorite emoji, and the 💖 sparkling heart, ❤️ red heart, 💛 yellow heart and 🖤 black heart all appeared in the most used emoji tally.
Each heart emoji can be interpreted as showing love toward others, but some can be understood in other ways. For example, Emojipedia says the black heart can be used to convey "morbidity, sorrow, or a form of dark humor," while the purple heart can be used to reference the Purple Heart medal awarded in the US military to soldiers who were wounded or killed in action.
If you've seen the hit Netflix show Adolescence, some of the heart emoji might look familiar. In the show, the teenage character Adam explains what different colored hearts mean to younger people. In Adolescence, a red heart is easily understood as love, but the yellow heart is more of a question, meaning, "I'm interested in you, are you interested in me?" And the purple heart means a person is horny -- so, you know, maybe don't use that emoji all over the place.
But some people just want to spread positivity with their heart-related emoji, especially after they feel other emoji are co-opted by unsavory folks.
"After tech bros corrupted my beloved sparkles emoji by making it visually synonymous with AI, there was an opening," said CNET writer Katelyn Chedraoui, who voted for the heart hands emoji. "The heart hands emoji glided through that window and into my life. I make heart hands all the time in real life, and I love spreading the joy online, too."
CNET's favorite emoji are just as diverse as emoji themselves
These are some of the favorite and most used emoji among the CNET staff in 2025. A person's favorite emoji is a personal choice, but communal experiences shape what each emoji means. Something could happen between now and this time next year to send the melting and grimacing faces tumbling from the top spots. The pandemic caused the 🦠 microbe emoji to shoot up in popularity in 2020, for example. So who knows, maybe the 😴sleepy face emoji will rise to the top and usher in an era of self-care and taking lots of naps. Or maybe the long-awaited orca whale, expected to come this fall, will make a big splash.
For more on emoji, here's how to decipher them, the latest approved emoji and how to react to messages with emoji on your iPhone.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Bend It Like Beckham' sequel in the works more than 20 years after the original
'I'm pretty certain that everyone's going to want to come back," director Gurinder Chadha said. Goal! Gurinder Chadha is working on a prequel to Bend It Like Beckham, the 2003 sports cult classic about a young Indian woman (Parminder Nagra) whose dreams of playing pro soccer clash with her strict immigrant parents' ideals. In the comedy, Nagra starred as Jess Bhamra, a teenager who goes against her parents' wishes and competes in matches in secret once she's enlisted by fellow player Jules Paxton (Keira Knightley) for a semi-pro team. Jonathan Rhys Meyers also starred as Jess' coach, Joe, whom she takes a liking to. Stars Nagra and Knightley, as well as Archie Panjabi (who played Pinky) and Juliet Stevenson (Paula), are "aware that a sequel is being developed," Chadha told Deadline, but "want to see a script before they commit." "I'm pretty certain that everyone's going to want to come back," Chadha said. "Everything hinges on the script and if the original cast likes it. I am working really hard to make sure every character I bring back has a decent arc." No plot details yet, but Chadha intends to once again co-write the screenplay with husband Paul Mayeda Berges. She also collaborated with Emma Hayes, head coach of the U.S. women's national soccer team, to help shape the script. The goal is a 2027 release to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the film's U.K. 2002 premiere. The original film, its title a nod to none other than former soccer player David Beckham, was a box office hit, grossing $76.6 million against a budget of roughly $6 million. It even inspired a 2015 West End production. 'I think people underestimated the power of girls wanting to see films where they were empowered,' Chadha told Entertainment Weekly of the film's enduring success in a retrospective in 2018 ,alongside stars Nagra and Panjabi. 'Those hardly ever existed.'"People love a story about an underdog," Nagra added. "Billy Elliot did it. Rocky. Somebody who has to struggle and is going up against everybody else's version of what they think that person should be. And I think that's what resonates with people: If you put the hard work in and the persistence, eventually it'll pay off." Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Forbes
9 minutes ago
- Forbes
From Mop To Musical: Lorin Latarro Finds The Heart In ‘Joy'
Betsy Wolfe plays the title role in the new musical Joy Lorin Latarro was on her way to the first rehearsal for the musical Joy when her seven-year-old daughter came down with a fever. Between arranging babysitters and calling the doctor, she was also preparing to direct the show and bring a musical to life. For Latarro, that kind of whirlwind morning felt uncannily like the opening scene of the show—Joy Mangano trying to get her family out the door before heading off to make her dreams take flight. 'All the mothers in our rehearsal room would laugh at how familiar the choreographed chaos is,' says Latarro. 'It's a chaotic but also deeply satisfying.' Lorin Latarro That mix of chaos and purpose drew Latarro to Joy, A True New Musical. The story centers on the real-life inventor and entrepreneur whose unstoppable tenacity transformed her life—and the lives of those around her. After reading Mangano's book and speaking with her on the phone, Latarro was deeply moved by the story of the single mother and inventor who turned a mop into a multimillion-dollar empire. Directing the show now playing at the Laura Pels Theater wasn't just about telling the story of a woman who created a self-wringing mop. It was about showing the strength it takes to build something from nothing—especially when no one believes in you at first. Latarro, who began her career as a Broadway dancer in 14 shows and ultimately became a director/choreographer, was drawn to the honesty of the story. She found inspiration from the complicated family dynamics, the financial pressures, the vulnerability and resilience it takes to keep going. Betsy Wolfe in the title role leads the talented cast which includes Jill Abramovitz, Honor Blue Savage, Adam Grupper, Brandon Espinoza, Paul Whitty, Charl Brown, Jaygee Macapugay, and Gabriela Carrillo. Joy is a story about believing in yourself, even when the odds say otherwise. Also, Latarro hopes that audiences see Joy and feel empowered to take charge of their lives. 'My hope is audiences walk out of the theater and finally listen to their inner voice and begin a new project, idea, or business,' she says. 'Or they push forward through whatever obstacles are currently in their way toward their goal, whether that goal is personal or business related.' Jeryl Brunner: Can you share more about how you got inspired to direct Joy? Lorin Latarro: I met with Ken Davenport, who is a prolific producer and one of the writers of Joy, along with AnnMarie Milazzo. I also read Joy's book, then spoke to Joy on the phone and fell head over heels in love with her determination, grit, kindness, and exuberance. Brunner: Joy is about much more than inventing a mop. It explores family, ambition, and perseverance. How did you build that journey onstage?Latarro: Joy's onstage family is imperfect, as is every family, in their own way. Joy manages to love them and keep them together, even through the messiness of their mistakes and shortcomings. Through Joy's determination, she shifts a generationally learned behavior for her daughter, which is not an easy thing to What was one of the messiest or most magical rehearsal moments you will never forget?Latarro: We all wanted to pour liquid onstage so the audience could see the mops actually work. It's notoriously difficult onstage to deal with watery substances because actors can slip, and it's messy to clean up. We tried many different substances for the various things that we spill onstage, including orange slushies, motor oil, and chocolate syrup. We ended up with an oobleck-type substance. After much messy trial and error, we were all happy we found a solution! Brunner: You are a choreographer and a director. How does each skill fulfill you?Latarro: Choreographing is more surgical. When choreographing, you live inside bars of music, and no matter the libretto, you can structure a song and dance number well. Each song is almost its own little musical with its own beginning, middle, and end. Alternatively, directing is like shooting an arrow through Jell-O. You can be fully prepared and have all these ideas walking in the room, but it all changes based on writers, actors, and collaborators, and 'what works' as you read down a scene. Directing feels more irised out than choreography, and a more holistic experience of the show and its dramaturgical needs. Directing is deeply satisfying in a new way. Communication is key so everyone is stylistically creating the same show. Brunner: How did you know that Betsy Wolfe was your Joy?Latarro: Betsy and I had the pleasure of working together on Waitress. I am a big fan. She's incredibly smart and has genius comic timing. Betsy is also a great leader in the room who works hard and always has a smile on her face. She loves the work. Her vocal chops are truly astonishing too! Brunner: You have directed revivals, brand-new musicals, and now a show based on a living inventor. What tells you a project is worth the time and energy?Latarro: If I am moved by a story, I want to work on it. I don't want to get pigeonholed doing the same thing over and over. It was one of the reasons I wanted to collaborate with choreographer Josh Bergasse on Joy. I wanted to focus completely on directing and feel the collaborative experience from another point of view. Also, I like all kinds of styles of musical theater. Sometimes I spend time inside dark shows like Tommy or Assassins, sometimes comedies like Heart of Rock and Roll, and sometimes I love finding new ways into revivals like Into the Woods. At the end of the day, I believe great theater makes people feel big feelings. I look for shows that have a lot of heart and soul. Theatre can change minds and open hearts. Brunner: When you begin dreaming up a scene, what is your starting point?Latarro: I always start by reading the script and lyrics without listening to the songs. I don't want to be seduced by the music before I experience the story. Then once I understand the story, I go back and reread the script with the interpolated song demos. Then I listen to the music over and over again. Brunner: What kind of creative environment do you try to cultivate?Latarro: I love the art of collaboration. It excites me endlessly. I like being in a room with people who also love the work. I am into the 'yes and' mentality. Someone has an idea, and we work on it until it grows and grows. I work hard because if I'm going to be away from my family, then I'm going to make it count. From left: Jill Abramovitz, Honor Blue Savage, Brandon Espinoza, Jaygee Macapugay, Brandon Espinoza, ... More and Adam Grupper
Forbes
9 minutes ago
- Forbes
Google Photos Introduces New AI Tools: Fun, Free, And Very Limited
Google is adding new generative AI tools to Google Photos, shifting the app away from its original ... More purpose. Key Takeaways Google Photos could be at the start of a radical transformation. In a major update rolling out now, Google is introducing what could be the most significant Google Photos AI upgrade yet, allowing you to turn static images into animated video clips and stylized art with just a few taps. The tools are free and fun, but are deliberately and severely limited -- and in many ways, that's a good thing. Google's Remix feature turns still images into fun videos with AI. The Big Update: Photo To Video — Fun But Deliberately Nerfed As I previously reported, Google Photos is introducing a game-changing new feature that transforms still photos into short video clips with a single tap. It's a powerful, but significantly cut-down version of the photo-to-video features already available to paying Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in Gemini. You can select any picture in your Google Photos library, choose between the vague 'Subtle movement' or slot-machine-like 'I'm feeling lucky' options, and wait for about a minute for the video animation to generate. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder Google's demos show once static people now celebrating by throwing handfuls of confetti in the air before it tumbles back down from above. These were both generated in 'I'm feeling lucky,' mode. I presume additional video effects will be available at launch and more added in the future. If you don't like the results, you can hit the Regenerate button to try again, but that's about it for user control. You can also tap on thumbs-up or thumbs-down icons to send feedback to Google. It would be great to see a few more preset options available, beyond just subtle movements or a random effect. Even adding just a few more emotions would make these clips useful as fun reactions for messaging apps, etc, in place of emojis or pre-made GIFs. The process takes up to a minute to complete, and you The focus here is clearly on fun rather than unbridled creativity. Where Gemini utilizes Google's powerful Veo3 video AI model to create animations of anything you want, Google Photos employs the older Veo 2 model, offering very little user control over what happens in the animation, except for repeatedly hitting the 'Regenerate' button. Furthermore, Veo 2 cannot generate audio, one of the standout features of Veo 3. Remix Your Photos — Too Little, Too Late? First discovered in May of this year, the new 'Remix' feature allows you to select a photo and transform it into a range of artistic styles, including cartoons, pencil sketches, and paintings. Google Photos Remix feature lets you transform photos into a range of artistic styles. As with the Photo to Video feature above, you can hit Regenerate to re-try any pictures you don't like and tap one of the thumb icons to provide feedback. Remix is clearly aimed at having fun and sharing moments in new ways, and there's nothing wrong with that. The results are Google's answer to the viral 'Ghliblified' images and action figure pictures you've probably seen taking over social media. However, unlike powerful tools like ChatGPT or Midjourney where you can simply type in any style imaginable, Remix forces you to pick from a small menu of pre-selected styles. The approach helps keep generated output safe for consumption, but also prevents any real creativity. Google will need to update the library of styles frequently or the novelty will wear off quickly. A New Direction For Google Photos — The Create Tab To make Google Photos' new generative tools easier to find, Google is introducing a new 'Create' tab, accessible by clicking an icon at the bottom of the app on both Android and iOS. Here, you'll be able to find all of Google Photos' creative tools gathered in one place, effectively separating the newer creative side of Google Photos from its original library functions. Google Photos introduces a new "Create" tab to house all of its new generative AI tools. This marks the beginning of a significant shift in purpose for Google Photos, as Google notes, it's now 'more than an archive, it's a canvas.' Personally, that's not what I want from Google Photos; I use it as a place to store and revisit memories rather than as a tool to create new content. The app's existing Animated slide shows and collages use AI to enhance memories, but these new tools alter them into something entirely new, creating video clips of events that never really happened. Google Photos Now Creates, But Is It Safe? Google appears to be exercising considerable caution with these new features, not least by severely limiting the scope of what can be created with these new Google Photos tools. However, the company acknowledges that the results may be 'inaccurate or unexpected' and displays a warning before use, along with a link to its GenAI prohibited use policy. Furthermore, all images and videos generated by Google Photos using AI contain invisible SynthID watermarks that reveal their synthetic origins. The Big Issue: US-Only Rollout Alienates Global Users Photo to Video and Remix are now rolling out on Android and iOS, but are currently only available in the US. The Create tab will then roll out in August, but once again, only in the US. This will be disappointing for international users, who may have to wait a considerable amount of time to access the new features. Remember, Google Photos users outside the US are still waiting for access to the AI-powered 'Ask Photos' feature nine months after launch. Google Photos has a massive worldwide user base, with billions of photos and videos uploaded each week, and runs the risk of frustrating a colossal number of customers if non-US customers remain excluded from its best features. Follow @paul_monckton on Instagram.
