You've seen it. That chaotic, slightly unsettling, and oddly ubiquitous facial expression where someone pulls their eyes toward their nose while sticking their tongue out. It’s the tongue out eyes crossed look—a face that has migrated from 90s cartoons and playground taunts straight into the heart of modern digital culture. Honestly, if you scroll through TikTok or Instagram for more than five minutes, you’re bound to hit a creator using this specific "derp" aesthetic to signal anything from genuine silliness to a very specific, niche subculture reference.
It's weird. It's jarring. And it’s actually a fascinating study in how we communicate without words.
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The Psychology Behind the Tongue Out Eyes Crossed Expression
Why do we do it? Evolutionarily speaking, sticking your tongue out is a universal sign of "rejection" or "disgust." Think about a baby pushing away bitter food. But when you add the crossed eyes—a deliberate act of breaking focal symmetry—you’re basically telling the world that your brain has "glitched." It is a visual shorthand for being overwhelmed, acting foolish, or simply opting out of being a serious, functioning adult for a second.
Psychologists often point to "benign masochism" or "play signaling" when discussing these kinds of exaggerated faces. By making ourselves look "ugly" or "broken," we lower the social stakes. It’s a defense mechanism. If I make the tongue out eyes crossed face before you can judge me, I’ve already beaten you to the punch. I’m the one in control of the joke.
From Ahegao to "Derp": The Internet Pipeline
We can't talk about this face without addressing the elephant in the room: the "Ahegao" (アヘ顔) phenomenon from Japanese ACG (Anime, Comic, Games) culture. While the mainstream tongue out eyes crossed face is often just a goofy "derp" expression, it has undeniable roots in this hyper-exaggerated trope used to signify sensory overload. Over the last decade, this specific visual language escaped the confines of niche forums and landed in the lap of Gen Z influencers.
It’s a strange crossover. On one hand, you have people like Belle Delphine, who popularized a very specific, stylized version of this face to build a multi-million dollar brand. On the other, you have your average middle-schooler doing it in a group selfie because it's "random." The context changes everything, but the mechanics of the face remain the same: a total loss of facial control.
Physicality: Can You Actually Get Stuck Like That?
Remember when your mom told you that if the wind changed while you were crossing your eyes, they’d stay that way forever?
Total myth.
The muscles that control your eyes—the medial rectus muscles—are incredibly resilient. When you perform the tongue out eyes crossed maneuver, you are essentially "converging" your eyes, which is what they naturally do when you look at something very close to your face. Sticking your tongue out involves the genioglossus muscle. Doing both at once requires a bit of coordination, but it’s not dangerous.
However, some people find it remarkably difficult. This usually comes down to "convergence insufficiency," a real condition where the eyes struggle to work together to look at nearby objects. If you can’t cross your eyes, it’s not because you aren’t "quirky" enough; your ocular muscles might just prefer long-distance focal points.
The "Derp" Era and the Death of the Pout
Remember the 2010s? The era of the "duck face" and the perfectly contoured "Instagram Face"?
The rise of the tongue out eyes crossed expression was a direct middle finger to that era of perfection. It’s a "counter-aesthetic." We got tired of looking perfect. We started wanting to look relatable, raw, and—frankly—a little bit stupid. This shift mirrors the broader trend of "photo dumps" and blurry, unedited shots. The face is the ultimate "anti-model" pose. It says, "I know I'm being recorded, and I refuse to be pretty for you."
Cult Figures and the Mastery of the Face
Some people have turned this specific expression into an art form.
- Jim Carrey: The undisputed king of facial contortion. Long before the internet existed, Carrey used the crossed-eye-tongue-out combo to convey madness in The Mask and Ace Ventura.
- Miley Cyrus: During her Bangerz era, the tongue became her literal trademark. While she didn't always cross her eyes, she paved the way for the "unruly tongue" as a symbol of pop-culture rebellion.
- Gene Simmons: The KISS frontman proved that sticking your tongue out could be menacing rather than just silly, though he usually skipped the crossed eyes to maintain the "demon" persona.
Why the Face Is "Sticking" Around in 2026
It’s all about the "thumbnail game."
On platforms like YouTube, creators need to stop the scroll. High-contrast, high-emotion faces get clicks. A face with tongue out eyes crossed creates a high-contrast visual. It’s "loud" without making a sound. It signals that the content is likely high-energy, comedic, or chaotic. It’s a tool for the attention economy.
But it’s also about community. When a streamer does this face after a "fail" in a game like League of Legends or Valorant, the audience immediately understands the vibe. It’s a shared language of frustration and humor.
How to Use the Look Without Being Cringe
Look, there’s a fine line between "funny" and "trying too hard." If you want to use the tongue out eyes crossed face in your own content or photos, timing is everything.
- The Contextual Fail: Use it when something actually goes wrong. It works as a punchline.
- The "Too Close" Selfie: It works best when the camera is slightly too close to your face, leaning into the distortion.
- Know Your Audience: Understand that in some circles, this face is still heavily associated with its anime origins. If that's not the vibe you're going for, maybe keep the tongue in.
Actionable Steps for Content Creators
If you’re looking to leverage these kinds of "expressive" trends for engagement, don't just copy the face. Understand the why.
- Audit your thumbnails: Look at your click-through rate (CTR). Do exaggerated expressions actually help your specific niche? Sometimes, a "derp" face can actually hurt a serious brand.
- Test the "Anti-Aesthetic": Try a post where you aren't trying to look "good." The tongue out eyes crossed look is a great way to test if your audience prefers the "real" you over the "polished" you.
- Watch the Lighting: Shadows under the eyes can make this face look creepy rather than funny. Aim for bright, flat lighting to keep the mood light.
- Mind the Muscles: If you’re doing this for a long photo shoot, give your face a break. Eye strain is a real thing, even if your eyes won't "stick" that way.
The tongue out eyes crossed expression is more than just a weird face. It's a tool for social rebellion, a signal of comedic intent, and a staple of the digital age. It’s the visual equivalent of a shrug and a laugh, all rolled into one. Whether you love it or find it cringe-worthy, it’s a permanent fixture of our visual vocabulary now.