Your Emoji Are Hiding Deep Secrets

"Wow, so many faces for so many emotions I've been feeling lately. Fries are there because I'm hardcore addicted, bathing suit and cocktails because I was just on vacation (can I go back?), thumbs-up and 'on point' emoji because my friends are awesome, and dancing girls/party hat emoji because YOLO. Oh, and of course, spider monkey . . . because it's my spirit animal."

— Lisette Mejia, Living assistant editor

"Big, big fan of the party emoji, which always feels like the best way to say, 'YAY!' My friend and I also have a running joke about some of the sad, unpopular emojis (See 'Cool' and 'Up!'), so we try to incorporate those weird ones whenever possible."

— Laura Meyers, assistant news editor

"Emoji are perfect for one thing: emotions. Since the people I text can't see my facial expressions while I'm texting, I tend to use emoji to supplement (especially when it comes to shock, love, and sadness, apparently). And then there's pizza, sushi, and fries, because food."

— Cassie Becker, copy editor

"I think my emoji are a pretty accurate description of my life right now. I have been to A LOT of weddings this year (see bride, kissing couple, cake, and money flying away), just came back from a tropical vacation (see drinks, palm tree, sun, bikini . . . and money flying away), and frequently feel like I am admitting to something I'm mildly ashamed of (see the flushed face . . . and money flying away). I also always love giving a good thumbs-up, a celebratory dance, a kiss to my friends, and those praising hands."

— Stacy Hersher, assistant managing editor

"Some of my biggest interests are represented here: dancing (twice), America, France, royals . . . I also apparently rely a lot on hand signals. And I'm always good for an emoji kiss sign-off."

— Annie Gabillet, Living director

"My emotional spectrum seems to be all over the place this week because I have everything from a crying and shocked face to happy and loving emoji! I tend to reply back to texts with a thumbs-up or peace sign instead of words like 'OK' and 'sounds good,' and there are two things I love a lot in this world: pizza and dogs!"

— Marina Liao, editorial intern

"This feels embarrassing. I swear I never used that weird love letter emoji, but I definitely used the doughnut. I don't remember why, but it was probably because I wanted a doughnut."

— Maggie Pehanick, Entertainment assistant editor

"Some notable ones: wine (obvs), purple devil (best emoji for prank planning/scheming), whale (try using it instead of 'well'), winking with tongue out (drunk), side eye (is my spirit animal), spider monkey (Lisette introduced me — best alternative for 'OK' or 'Great!'), and magnifying glass (used in context of 'WHERE the hell are you?!')."

— Nicole Nguyen, Tech assistant editor

"My top two emoji never change. They're always 'I'm crying laughing because what I just read was the funniest thing ever in the whole wide world,' or 'My life is so hard today, what else could possibly go wrong?' That basically sums up my life. Plus peaches because yum."

— Hedy Phillips, copy editor

"I was initially confused because I didn't remember texting most of these, until I realized it must also pull in Snapchat emoji . . . aha! Although GIFs have primarily replaced emoji as my texting visual aids, I still use them when I need to see if someone's available for wine time or beer o'clock. And the openmouthed, awkward grimacing face (does that guy have a better name?) will always be a texting staple, at least until they finally come out with an eye-roll emoji."

— Mary White, copy chief

"Let's see . . . the hearts and baby face are pretty much always in my Recently Used panel, as I'm in the phase of life that all of my friends are exchanging pics of our babies on the regular. The cake, red wine, confetti horn combo are how I wish people a happy birthday, and the plane, palm tree, sunshine are in reference to an upcoming beach weekend with family. No memory of using the volcano . . . recently or ever."

— Lisa Horten, Moms associate editor

"I clearly express a wide range of excessive and exaggerated emotions. I have a bit of a morbid side I probably need to get in check (e.g., the smirking demon emoji, skull, and knife because I threaten people a lot). Maybe that's OK, because I also see a lot of heart usage. I use the alien as my own personal sign-off . . . It resonates with me. Leaves because hello, it's October."

— Sierra Horton, editorial intern

"I'm all about love, cake, watermelon, and more cake recently. I get a thrill using the watermelon as an illustrated homage to Beyoncé."

— Angelica Marden, managing editor

"Most of them make sense (I like eating, drinking, Halloween, sparkles, and long bubble baths), but I honestly can't explain the sheep or the baby. Where did they come from? Why did I use them? I guess it'll remain a mystery."

— Brinton Parker, editorial assistant

"My kid is sick, which explains the sicky-poo, sleepy, and crying faces, but apparently I know a lot of people with recent birthdays who love turkey legs and martins. Nomnomnom."

— Kristy Ellington, partner programming manager

"I was just relaxing on vacation, so every message I've sent over the last few days had to include something about the cocktails, naps, music, and junk food I was enjoying by the pool. And the poop emoji, well, that's always relevant, any time of year."

— Kelly Schwarze, Tech associate editor