Because of its round, big eyes, it's often used to express pure joy or surprise. It gives a more expressive and lively feeling than 😀. It’s perfect for conveying positive surprise.

In the West, it's often used with interjections like "Yay!" to emphasize positive energy. It also feels familiar in East Asia, as it resembles the way characters' eyes widen in surprise or joy in Japanese anime. It's great to use as a reaction to pure delight or unexpected good news.