iOS 10 Paves the Way for Greater Diversity in the Emoji Universe

The arrival of Apple’s iOS 10, set to launch later in the year, possibly by November, creates a wave of excitement among its users. The much-coveted new operating system promises an array of extraordinary features that once seemed beyond the realm of possibility. Among these advancements, users now have the power to remove pre-installed apps including Maps, Calculator, Music, Videos, and others previously unremovable. For more details about the myriad changes the latest installment of the iOS series will herald, you can delve deeper [here](http://techbooky.com/4495-2/).


Breaking more stereotype barriers is the introduction of an even greater variety of emojis. Yesterday, Apple [announced](http://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/08/apple-adds-more-gender-diverse-emoji-in-ios-10.html), with the title, “Apple adds more gender diverse emoji in iOS 10,” the addition of new sporting figures such as female swimmers, weight lifters, and cyclists. This perhaps comes inspired by the spirit of the Olympics, slated to open this week in Rio, Brazil. However, the update does not limit itself to sports. Prepare to see your professional services populated with a wider range of female icons, including pilots and engineers. It comes as an earnest effort by Apple, in close collaboration with the Unicode Consortium, to make popular emoji characters mirror the diversity of people worldwide.

Adding more to the palette of inclusive representation, emojis will now illustrate various forms of modern families. Expect to see single parents and a brightly colored rainbow, a symbol strongly associated with the LGBT+ community. While Apple is not the pioneer in introducing such progressive emojis, with giants like Facebook and Google proposing similar updates, it is still a significant stride towards celebrating diversity.

In more recent developments around the world, February saw the launch of a series by Afro Emoji that aimed to bridge the diversity gap in the emoji world. June witnessed the creation of a Bible-themed emoji to inspire younger generations to engage more in biblical readings. These events underscore the increasing importance and influence of emojis in our everyday online interactions.

This article was updated in 2025 to reflect modern realities.