According to Meta, every day billions of consumers around the world use Meta's technologies (Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) to communicate and connect with their family, friends and communities.

Often, those connections come in emoji form, says Meta. People may not always be able to connect in the physical form but Emojis help bring out what words cannot always express.

With the introduction of new Emojis, consumers continue to enjoy the light-hearted and humorous way of communicating, adds Meta.

Here's a look at some of the most popular emojis used in the last year:

  1. Soccer is a hit among South Africans, with the soccer ball emoji coming in as the most popular emoji on IG bios. 
  2. South Africans love to celebrate birthdays and the birthday cake emoji comes in as the most popular. 
Also, among the most popular newly released emojis (version 14.0) on Facebook used by people living in South Africa (and their meanings, according to the 'Emojipedia') include the ones mentioned below:

The yellow face with tears welling up at the bottom of its two large eyes. 

Meta says that it may be used to express a range of emotions including:
  • sadness
  • anger
  • embarrassment
  • admiration, and
  • gratitude.
The two hands forming a heart shape

Meta adds that this can be used to express love and support.

The eyes and mouth that are slipping down a face yet still maintaining a distorted smile

Meta says that this quality lends this emoji to sarcasm. According to the platform, it can be used literally to talk about extreme heat; it can also be used metaphorically to talk about embarrassment, shame, or a slowly sinking sense of dread.

A yellow face with its hands over its eyes and raised eyebrows

One wide eye is peeking through the fingers. Meta adds that this can be used to express the duality of wanting to look away from something because it's frightening, disgusting, or embarrassing but not being able to.

A hand with the index finger pointing straight forward at the person viewing the emoji

For more information, visit www.facebook.com.