It's All About the Emoji

Taylor Tyson
Staff Writer

      Where words fail, emojis take their place, proving the aphorism: “A picture is worth a thousand words.” About a week ago, Apple released software update, iOS 9.1. For many Apple fans, this update meant better software and increased app productivity on their iPhone or iPad. However, for students at Apex High, the update was all about the emojis. From nerd faces to unicorns to tacos, emojis have become a part of teenagers’ everyday lingo. Releasing “over 150 new emojis,” according to Forbes, Apple is really stepping up their game.
      Don’t have an iPhone? Don’t fret; Apple’s got you covered. According to Forbes, Apple’s new emojis have “full support for Unicode 7.0 and 8.0 emojis.” That means that Android users can also see these new emojis, eventually. For Android users who just can’t wait, the app, Emoji Switcher, can help one see the emojis in no time. Even while on a Dell computer, one can view various emojis such as the comet and shamrock symbols. Apple really knew what they were doing with their emojis this time but why the long wait? In July, when news leaked that new emojis were on their way, Apple had just proposed a list of emojis to be “approved by the Unicode Consortium,” according to Digital Trends. Apple strategically perfected the emojis following their iPhone 6S press release, leaving many iPhone users on edge.

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      What does this update mean for the future of emojis? Well, it’s all about the response. This question really lies in the hands of the youth. Emojis have become an integral part of society. Alike to the early Facebook craze, some companies have taken this too far. Earlier this year, Courtney Carbone, a progressive young author, released YOLO Juliet and srsly Hamlet, renditions of classic Shakespeare plays in text lingo featuring emojis. Although this was a great way to introduce the average teenager to Shakespeare, Shakespeare probably wouldn’t approve, and teens everywhere raged about the product online. Emojis have also entered the fashion industry. Found alongside random state fair street markets, emoji bucket hats and sweatpants have become a symbol of change, even if that change is slightly distasteful. Although the trend seems logically feasible due to the excessive emoji use in communication, many teens have opted to keep emojis in their texts rather than on their bodies or in their plays. 
      Apex High students are full of opinions about emojis. According to an online poll, students’ top three emojis are the Unicorn Emoji, Burrito and Upside Down Smiley Face. That’s right, slide over Middle Finger, the Burrito has captured the hearts (and stomachs) of Apex High students!
​      Generally, the Apex High community thinks that the new emojis are a step in the right direction for Apple, “adding more variation” and shortening the amount of words that iPhone users have to type, according to one of the surveyed students. So what next? Technology news company, Mashable, predicts that Apple will release even more emojis in the near future, creating a plethora of emoji-based communication.