How are new emojis made?
Emojis are defined by a group called the Unicode Consortium , comprised of representatives from a number of hardware and software companies. They agree on updates to the Unicode Standard, which is a common means of encoding and representing text in digital formats. It’s the foundation of transmitting and displaying text on nearly all modern digital platforms.
Emojis are a part of the Unicode standard, and the group gets together each year to decide which new icons will be added to the official list. On February 5, Unicode announced that the Emoji 12.0 list has been finalized and is ready for implementation.
A focus on diversity and inclusion
The new Emoji 12.0 standard includes 59 new emojis. There are new foods, like waffle and butter. You’ll find new animals, like the flamingo and sloth. As always, the group has added quite a few new objects and shapes, from new colors to existing shapes (such as a white heart and several new colors for squares and circles) to objects like a sari, a diya lamp, or a banjo.
Unicode
Many of the 230 emojis are variants on people holding hands, representing different gender and skin tone combinations.
But if there’s an overall theme to the Emoji 12.0 list, it’s greater inclusion and representation. Those 59 new emojis become 230 when you consider the 171 variants to account for gender and skin tone. Many of them account for combinations of two people holding hands, including two men, two women, and two gender-neutral people (to represent non-binary people, or to use when the gender is unknown or unspecified). These all come in a variety of skin tone combinations.
Emojipedia
All of Apple’s proposed accessibility emojis have been included in the 12.0 standard.
People with disabilities are far better represented in the new emojis, too. The consortium has agreed to include all nine of Apple’s proposed accessibility emojis , including people in wheelchairs, ears with hearing aids, deaf people, guide dogs, people with canes, and mechanical arms and legs.
When will you get them?
Once the new Emoji list is ratified and released, it is up to software makers (typically those that make operating systems) to implement them. There are specific guidelines about what each icon should include, but the artwork itself is otherwise not standardized. Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, and Google all have their own emoji art.
Apple is generally pretty quick to implement new emojis, and they can come from either major or minor iOS and macOS updates. There were more than 70 new emojis in iOS 12.1, for example. We haven’t seen any of these new emojis in the iOS 12.2 beta , and don’t yet know if they will come in an iOS 12 update or this fall with iOS 13.
Some software makers, like Twitter and Facebook, create their own emojis for use on the web and inside their apps on certain platforms (though iOS apps generally use Apple’s emojis). So you may see some of the new emojis on the web before Apple includes them in an iOS or macOS update.
The complete Emoji 12.0 list
The entire list of new emojis, from the excellent Emojipedia site, is as follows:
Yawning Face Brown Heart White Heart Pinching Hand Pinching Hand: Light Skin Tone Pinching Hand: Medium-Light Skin Tone Pinching Hand: Medium Skin Tone Pinching Hand: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Pinching Hand: Dark Skin Tone Mechanical Arm Mechanical Leg Ear With Hearing Aid Ear With Hearing Aid: Light Skin Tone Ear With Hearing Aid: Medium-Light Skin Tone Ear With Hearing Aid: Medium Skin Tone Ear With Hearing Aid: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Ear With Hearing Aid: Dark Skin Tone Deaf Person Deaf Person: Light Skin Tone Deaf Person: Medium-Light Skin Tone Deaf Person: Medium Skin Tone Deaf Person: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Deaf Person: Dark Skin Tone Deaf Man Deaf Man: Light Skin Tone Deaf Man: Medium-Light Skin Tone Deaf Man: Medium Skin Tone Deaf Man: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Deaf Man: Dark Skin Tone Deaf Woman Deaf Woman: Light Skin Tone Deaf Woman: Medium-Light Skin Tone Deaf Woman: Medium Skin Tone Deaf Woman: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Deaf Woman: Dark Skin Tone Person Standing Person Standing: Light Skin Tone Person Standing: Medium-Light Skin Tone Person Standing: Medium Skin Tone Person Standing: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Person Standing: Dark Skin Tone Man Standing Man Standing: Light Skin Tone Man Standing: Medium-Light Skin Tone Man Standing: Medium Skin Tone Man Standing: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Man Standing: Dark Skin Tone Woman Standing Woman Standing: Light Skin Tone Woman Standing: Medium-Light Skin Tone Woman Standing: Medium Skin Tone Woman Standing: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Woman Standing: Dark Skin Tone Person Kneeling Person Kneeling: Light Skin Tone Person Kneeling: Medium-Light Skin Tone Person Kneeling: Medium Skin Tone Person Kneeling: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Person Kneeling: Dark Skin Tone Man Kneeling Man Kneeling: Light Skin Tone Man Kneeling: Medium-Light Skin Tone Man Kneeling: Medium Skin Tone Man Kneeling: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Man Kneeling: Dark Skin Tone Woman Kneeling Woman Kneeling: Light Skin Tone Woman Kneeling: Medium-Light Skin Tone Woman Kneeling: Medium Skin Tone Woman Kneeling: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Woman Kneeling: Dark Skin Tone Man With Probing Cane Man With Probing Cane: Light Skin Tone Man With Probing Cane: Medium-Light Skin Tone Man With Probing Cane: Medium Skin Tone Man With Probing Cane: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Man With Probing Cane: Dark Skin Tone Woman With Probing Cane Woman With Probing Cane: Light Skin Tone Woman With Probing Cane: Medium-Light Skin Tone Woman With Probing Cane: Medium Skin Tone Woman With Probing Cane: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Woman With Probing Cane: Dark Skin Tone Man in Motorized Wheelchair Man in Motorized Wheelchair: Light Skin Tone Man in Motorized Wheelchair: Medium-Light Skin Tone Man in Motorized Wheelchair: Medium Skin Tone Man in Motorized Wheelchair: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Man in Motorized Wheelchair: Dark Skin Tone Woman in Motorized Wheelchair Woman in Motorized Wheelchair: Light Skin Tone Woman in Motorized Wheelchair: Medium-Light Skin Tone Woman in Motorized Wheelchair: Medium Skin Tone Woman in Motorized Wheelchair: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Woman in Motorized Wheelchair: Dark Skin Tone Man in Manual Wheelchair Man in Manual Wheelchair: Light Skin Tone Man in Manual Wheelchair: Medium-Light Skin Tone Man in Manual Wheelchair: Medium Skin Tone Man in Manual Wheelchair: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Man in Manual Wheelchair: Dark Skin Tone Woman in Manual Wheelchair Woman in Manual Wheelchair: Light Skin Tone Woman in Manual Wheelchair: Medium-Light Skin Tone Woman in Manual Wheelchair: Medium Skin Tone Woman in Manual Wheelchair: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Woman in Manual Wheelchair: Dark Skin Tone People Holding Hands People Holding Hands: Light Skin Tone People Holding Hands: Medium-Light Skin Tone, Light Skin Tone People Holding Hands: Medium-Light Skin Tone People Holding Hands: Medium Skin Tone, Light Skin Tone People Holding Hands: Medium Skin Tone, Medium-Light Skin Tone People Holding Hands: Medium Skin Tone People Holding Hands: Medium-Dark Skin Tone, Light Skin Tone People Holding Hands: Medium-Dark Skin Tone, Medium-Light Skin Tone People Holding Hands: Medium-Dark Skin Tone, Medium Skin Tone People Holding Hands: Medium-Dark Skin Tone People Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone, Light Skin Tone People Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone, Medium-Light Skin Tone People Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone, Medium Skin Tone People Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone, Medium-Dark Skin Tone People Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone Women Holding Hands: Light Skin Tone Women Holding Hands: Medium-Light Skin Tone, Light Skin Tone Women Holding Hands: Medium-Light Skin Tone Women Holding Hands: Medium Skin Tone, Light Skin Tone Women Holding Hands: Medium Skin Tone, Medium-Light Skin Tone Women Holding Hands: Medium Skin Tone Women Holding Hands: Medium-Dark Skin Tone, Light Skin Tone Women Holding Hands: Medium-Dark Skin Tone, Medium-Light Skin Tone Women Holding Hands: Medium-Dark Skin Tone, Medium Skin Tone Women Holding Hands: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Women Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone, Light Skin Tone Women Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone, Medium-Light Skin Tone Women Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone, Medium Skin Tone Women Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone, Medium-Dark Skin Tone Women Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Light Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Light Skin Tone, Medium-Light Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Light Skin Tone, Medium Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Light Skin Tone, Medium-Dark Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Light Skin Tone, Dark Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Medium-Light Skin Tone, Light Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Medium-Light Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Medium-Light Skin Tone, Medium Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Medium-Light Skin Tone, Medium-Dark Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Medium-Light Skin Tone, Dark Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Medium Skin Tone, Light Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Medium Skin Tone, Medium-Light Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Medium Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Medium Skin Tone, Medium-Dark Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Medium Skin Tone, Dark Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Medium-Dark Skin Tone, Light Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Medium-Dark Skin Tone, Medium-Light Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Medium-Dark Skin Tone, Medium Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Medium-Dark Skin Tone, Dark Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone, Light Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone, Medium-Light Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone, Medium Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone, Medium-Dark Skin Tone Woman and Man Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone Men Holding Hands: Light Skin Tone Men Holding Hands: Medium-Light Skin Tone, Light Skin Tone Men Holding Hands: Medium-Light Skin Tone Men Holding Hands: Medium Skin Tone, Light Skin Tone Men Holding Hands: Medium Skin Tone, Medium-Light Skin Tone Men Holding Hands: Medium Skin Tone Men Holding Hands: Medium-Dark Skin Tone, Light Skin Tone Men Holding Hands: Medium-Dark Skin Tone, Medium-Light Skin Tone Men Holding Hands: Medium-Dark Skin Tone, Medium Skin Tone Men Holding Hands: Medium-Dark Skin Tone Men Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone, Light Skin Tone Men Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone, Medium-Light Skin Tone Men Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone, Medium Skin Tone Men Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone, Medium-Dark Skin Tone Men Holding Hands: Dark Skin Tone Orangutan Guide Dog Service Dog Sloth Otter Skunk Flamingo Garlic Onion Waffle Falafel Butter Oyster Beverage Box Maté Ice Cube Hindu Temple Manual Wheelchair Motorized Wheelchair Auto Rickshaw Parachute Ringed Planet Diving Mask Yo-Yo Kite Safety Vest Sari One-Piece Swimsuit Briefs Shorts Ballet Shoes Banjo Diya Lamp Axe Probing Cane Drop of Blood Adhesive Bandage Stethoscope Chair Razor Orange Circle Yellow Circle Green Circle Purple Circle Brown Circle Red Square Orange Square Yellow Square Green Square Blue Square Purple Square Brown Square
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