DIVERSITY: The new Apple software iOS 8.3 features a new array of diverse Emojis.
By Michelle Boulous, Staff Writer
Over the past few years, emojis (the emoticons from Apple) have transformed the way people communicate. From the infamous, affectionate “kissy” face to the poop emoji displayed just for laughs, owners of Apple products frequently use these ideograms to add personality to their text messages or contact lists. However, prior to the addition of iOS 8.3, Apple’s emojis did not display much variety and only featured a white skin tone. But with the new iOS 8.3 software update, the emojis underwent a new, much-needed transformation.
The most notable change was the addition of new skin tones to the emoji selection. Apple set the emojis’ default color as yellow, but users have the option of changing them. Now they each come in five different skin tones that range from light to dark, and people of color can set their emojis to look like them.
Other changes include the addition of emojis that feature gay and lesbian couples, various types of families and flags from different countries around the world. There are now 15 family emojis that include both homosexual and heterosexual parents and feature a mixed amount of children and gender. The brand new flags include those of countries such as India, Sweden, Poland and several other nations.
The rumors of Apple’s diverse emojis have now come true and are bringing positive change. While everyone might be perplexed by the new yellow figures on their keyboards, it seems, according to social media, that people are having fun with them. Being Middle Eastern, this new update allows me to customize a princess emoji to match my appearance, and I will no longer have to be stuck with a blonde emoji that looks nothing like I do.
In a recent movement for equal rights and racial equality, Apple’s update is long overdue. With this added diversity, Apple is defeating stereotypes and displaying acceptance of any race, gender and sexual orientation.