Apple's latest iOS 17.4 update removed longstanding family emojis and replaced them with simpler icons, prompting questions about the rationale behind this decision. The change stemmed from efforts initiated in 2015 by the Unicode Consortium to enhance emoji inclusivity, which led to the addition of skin tone options. While implementing these variations for yellow-skinned emojis was manageable, accommodating the diverse family structures proved challenging due to the exponential increase in possible combinations. Previous attempts by Microsoft and Facebook to address this issue encountered limitations. Apple opted for a minimalist approach, removing skin tone and gender altogether from family emojis, following a similar move by Google. This decision aims to streamline emoji representation without excluding anyone.
Vocabulary:
• Unicode Consortium: (noun) An organization responsible for establishing industry standards for character encoding, including emoji.
• Inclusive: (adjective) Including all types of people without exception, especially those who have been historically marginalized or underrepresented.
• Cumbersome: (adjective) Awkward or difficult to manage due to size, weight, or complexity.
• Practical: (adjective) Concerned with the actual doing or use of something rather than with theory and ideas.
• Silhouettes: (noun) The dark shape and outline of someone or something visible in restricted light against a brighter background.
• Exponential: (adjective) (of an increase) becoming more and more rapid.
• Streamline: (verb) Simplify and make more efficient, especially by removing unnecessary parts or steps.
Source: Apple Explained