face with tears of joy

This emoji is so influential globally that it was even selected as Oxford Dictionaries' 'Word of the Year' in 2015. It gained attention for its ability to convey the same emotion universally, regardless of cultural background.

Recently, its usage has expanded, especially among younger generations, to express exaggerated reactions or slight sarcasm rather than genuine laughter. It's evolving into a versatile emoji capable of conveying various nuances depending on the context.