
In honor of World Emoji Day on Saturday, Emojipedia has announced its draft candidates for the next emoji release versioned as Emoji 14.0. The newest round of the potential emojis focus on diversity and inclusivity while also extending the icon’s expansive array of facial expressions.
The offerings continue the non-verbal icon’s efforts of diversity with the introduction of a wide range of skin tones for all available emojis, while also implementing masculine, feminine and gender-neutral versions. According to Emojipedia’s founder, Jeremy Burge, the inclusion initiative “will mean that nearly all emojis can have default a gender-neutral option, with choice to use a woman or man where relevant.” For instance, the “pregnancy woman” emoji will now be accompanied by “pregnancy man” and “pregnancy person” to recognize trans and non-binary reproduction. The “prince” and “princess” emojis are also welcoming new additions with the gender-inclusive alternative “person with crown” icon.

The latest entries for approval are also staying in touch with the pulse of pop culture. K-Pop fans will be elated that the possible update includes an ode to their finger-heart sign with an emoji hand that crosses the index finger and thumb. Emojis have long been a cornerstone of the digital age and have kept up with the ebbs and flows of our sociopolitical climate, so it comes to no surprise that the draft group also dabbled into the social conscious. The newly-rendered “coral” emoji is included to denote climate change discourse, “given the impact of rising global temperatures on coral reefs.”
Although we’re all anticipating the new set’s release, the draft emoji list is slated for final approval by the Unicode Consortium in September 2021. From there, the earliest support for the 14.0 update should rollout in October. By January to June 2022, the emojis should be available on all major platforms.