Daily writing prompt

What are your favorite emojis?

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I don’t really have favorite emojis. Sure, I use them now and then, mostly the way people use seasoning — a little here, a little there, just enough so a text doesn’t accidentally sound hostile when all I meant was “okay.” Because apparently a plain “okay” now looks like the emotional equivalent of slamming a door.

But to have favorite emojis suggests a much deeper relationship with the emoji universe than I possess. That sounds like someone who has studied the catalog, compared subtle facial differences, and perhaps developed opinions about when 😐 is more appropriate than 😑, or whether 🤔 carries genuine thoughtfulness or passive-aggressive doubt.

I have not reached that level of commitment. I do not browse emojis recreationally. I do not think, “You know what this conversation needs? A llama.”

Mostly I use the same small handful over and over, which probably means my emotional range, at least digitally, can be expressed by about four symbols: 👍, 😂, 🤦‍♂️, and ☕. That last one may not even count as emotion so much as medical necessity.

And every now and then I stumble across one I didn’t know existed and wonder who exactly requested it. Somewhere, someone fought for the inclusion of things like a melting face, a troll, and seventeen vegetables no one has ever texted in an emergency. Meanwhile, I’m still trying to understand why there are multiple moons with different expressions, as though the moon itself is quietly judging our messages.

To have favorite emojis also suggests the kind of person who may have genuinely enjoyed The Emoji Movie — which still sounds less like entertainment and more like something accidentally left running in an airport waiting area.

I suspect most adults don’t actually have favorite emojis. We have emergency emojis — the dependable little symbols we use when words feel unnecessary, risky, or likely to invite follow-up questions. 👍 means “message received.” 😂 means “that was funny enough.” 🤦‍♂️ covers about half of modern life. And ☕ means either “good morning” or “I am speaking to you only because caffeine has entered the bloodstream.”

And of course there is the universal truth that once someone uses six emojis in a row, the message stops being communication and starts looking like a ransom note written by a cheerful kidnapper.

Copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.