New emojis for 2020 have been announced. The Unicode Consortium, a governing body that helps standardize languages on computers, released new emojis for worldwide adoption. We’re excited that the new emojis for 2020 expand options regarding culture, activities, and gender. We’ve rounded up some of our favorites below.
Cultural Cuisine Emojis
We are excited to see that among the new emojis for 2020 are additions to the food and drink categories. The flatbread emoji has alternate tags like “arepa”, “naan”, and “pita”. There is now bubble tea and a hot teapot. We raised an eyebrow at the fondue pot, pondering when we would be likely to use it. But perhaps the most awaited emoji on the TINT team’s roster is the tamal emoji!
Gender diversity Emojis
Emojis, as we know them were invented in 1999 by Shigeta Kurita. Their purpose was to allow users to quickly convey meaning with small icons. The new emojis for 2020 include a plethora of iconography to demonstrate the diversity of gender. This includes the use of people-first language like “person feeding baby” and “person in a tuxedo” that extends beyond the binary. The transgender symbol and the transgender pride flag are also included in the set.
Texas-Friendly Emojis
TINT is headquartered here just off the San Antonio River Walk. We found some “Texas-friendly” emojis that will likely pepper future conversation. Speaking of peppers, you can’t talk about fajitas without the bell pepper emoji. Tejano music (Tex-Mex) doesn’t bop without an accordion. And you can’t have a party in South Texas without a piñata.
Emojis for Weekend Warriors
An entire set of emojis have been released for the do-it-yourselfer. The most fun tools in the toolbox were the plunger, carpentry saw, screwdriver, and ladder.
More Animals!!
We love critters and there are cats, bison, beavers, seals, and polar bears entering the mix. Insects are being added and will invariably be used for trash talking. You are now equipped with a beetle, cockroach, fly, and worm. (Yes, we know that worms aren’t technically insects.)
Regional Eclectic
The new emojis for 2020 will let you get regional with icons like the conga drum, nesting dolls, gold coins, zori thong sandals, and the boomerang.
Emoji Oddities
Rounding out the set are some oddities that will likely have a unique meaning once they enter the language. The anatomically correct heart (and lungs) were slightly offputting. There were two extinct animals, the dodo, and the woolly mammoth, that were interesting if seemingly unuseful. The ninja was a favorite. We have discussed extensively the possible uses of the bucket emoji. Please let us know if you have a good idea.
Wrap Up
When you add up all the color variants, 117 new emojis for 2020 have been announced. Online websites can start testing the implementation process immediately, but the release of Unicode 13.0 is scheduled for March 10. Generally, cellular manufacturers will wait until the end of summer to implement these emojis, though it will vary from company to company.
Interested in emojis? Read the TINT “Why Emojis are Taking Over the World” in a throwback from the TINT Archives.
