Here's How to Officially Suggest New Emojis
The Unicode Consortium allows individuals to submit proposals for new emojis, provided they follow strict guidelines. While tech companies implement the icons, the actual selection process is driven by public submissions rather than internal corporate decisions.
Why it matters
Understanding the democratic process behind digital communication standards demystifies how global cultural symbols are created.
Next spring, you'll notice a handful of new emojis pop up on your iPhone or Android device. As shared by Unicode Emoji Subcommittee Chair Jennifer Daniel, there are nine additions slated for 2027, including "Cracking Face," "Leftwards Thumb Sign," "Rightwards Thumb Sign," "Monarch Butterfly," "Pickle," "Lighthouse," "Meteor," "Eraser," and "Net With Handle." It's not the biggest update in emoji history, but it's a fun assortment. (I can imagine "Cracked Face" is going to get some use.) I always enjoy when new emojis hit the scene (who could live without the recent "Melting Face"), but I never really questioned how these emojis actually come to be. I imagine that's the same for most of us who use these icons. Maybe some of us think that the individual tech companies (e.g., Apple, Google, etc.) are responsible; maybe others believe some faceless "Emoji Board" makes the decisions.
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