- New emojis will be available as a web font this September, on Android phones by March 2025, and in Google products in early 2025.
There are now 3,782 emojis in use and that will became 3,789 – as seven new icons are set to hit the keyboards next year.
The Unicode Consortium, the standards body responsible for the internationalization of software and services, has announced the addition of seven new emojis to the Unicode 16.0 release, set to be made available to users in March 2025.
The new emoji s will be available as a web font this September, on Android phones by March 2025, and in Google products in early 2025.
The move by the Consortium reflects the ever-evolving nature of digital communication and the need to expand the expressive capabilities of emojis to better represent the diverse experiences and needs of modern society.
Digital interactions
The first of the new emojis is a “face with bags under eyes,” intended to effectively convey a state of sleep-deprivation. The proposal, submitted by Erin Collett in 2018, recognises that exhaustion is a universal human experience, one that is particularly relevant for new parents, shift workers, and those who consume heavy amounts of alcohol.
By introducing this emoji, the Consortium aims to provide users with a direct and relatable way to communicate their physical and mental fatigue, fostering a greater understanding and empathy within digital interactions.
The second new emoji is a fingerprint, addressing the need for a visual representation of biometrics, crime, and identity without resorting to more abstract combinations of symbols.
As authors Gregory Fiumara and Rafaella Ferraro argued, the image of a fingerprint is a highly recognizable and visually distinct entity, one that carries significant meaning in various contexts, from security to personal identification.
The addition will enhance the ability of users to convey these concepts effectively and with greater precision.
The third new emoji is a leafless tree, which may be celebrated by climate activists and weather enthusiasts alike. Submitted by Brian Baihaki in 2022, this symbol represents drought, winter, and a barren environment, highlighting the natural cycle of life and the challenges posed by a changing climate.
By incorporating this emoji, the Consortium recognises the growing importance of environmental awareness and the need to provide users with a visual tool to express their concerns and observations about the natural world.
The fourth new emoji is a root vegetable, which could represent a wide range of underground produce, including beets, turnips, kohlrabi, rutabagas, and daikons.
Cybersecurity experts may use this emoji to denote root access, while gardening enthusiasts and food lovers could employ it to convey their passion for horticulture and cuisine.
Range of visual cues
Submitters Thomas Woodside and Nicholas Beninato also noted the potential for the emoji to be used in creative and idiomatic expressions, adding to its versatility and expressive potential.
The fifth new emoji is a harp, which will not only delight musicians but also those with an affinity for love, angels, and Irish culture. As submitters Mary Lattimore and Theo Schear of Emojination argued, the harp is a visually distinct instrument that deserves its own representation, separate from the more commonly used guitar and violin emojis.
The addition will expand the musical and cultural diversity of the emoji ecosystem, catering to a wider range of user interests and experiences.
The sixth new emoji is a shovel, which may appeal to construction workers, gardening enthusiasts, moles, and even criminal gangs, depending on the context.
As one of the most widely used outdoor tools, the shovel represents action, digging, and scooping, making it a valuable addition to the growing collection of emojis that convey physical activities and tools.
Finally, the seventh new emoji is a splat, which could be used to express a variety of concepts, from the dramatic end of a character in a cartoon to the messy result of a culinary experiment.
The emoji adds a new dimension to the range of visual cues available to users, allowing for more expressive and dynamic communication.