Apple teases more than 70 new emoji, including red hair and superheroes
Happy World Emoji Day! 🎉
Today, Apple teased more than 70 new emoji to mark the unofficial holiday. The new set of emoji is scheduled to hit iOS devices later this year.
The soon-to-be-released update includes several new emoji types, most notably two new superheroes.
This new batch of emoji also aims to up inclusion and representation, particularly for various Asian cultures.
For example, the inclusion of a Nazar Amulet and mango is a huge win for many Southeast Asians, since the two symbols are important parts of their cultures. The Amulet is a symbol of good luck to ward off the evil eye for many people living in the greater peninsula region, and mangoes, although ubiquitous in many non-white cultures, is particularly salient to those from Southeast Asia.
And as a nod to Chinese culture, there is an anatomically correct mooncake that is eaten to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival (predominantly celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese people) and leafy greens (which Apple should honestly just call baby bok choy, since it's not any other leafy green).
There are also four new major hair options!
The update adds red, white, bald, and curly hair emoji, which is a huge deal for those who previously did not have a correct style to use. There is still, however, a glaring lack of representation of hairstyles.
CARD ID: 369054
Although curly and bald hair are now available besides previously only wavy or straight hair emoji, there are still many styles and textures that remain untouched and unrepresented. The current emoji compendium still comes from a paler-skinned lens.
Click through the four new sets below:
CARD ID: 369057
CARD ID: 369065
CARD ID: 369047
CARD ID: 369068
For a full list of the new emoji, check them all out here!
