Gone are the days when emojis merely consisted of a handful of digital smiley – or not so smiley – faces. The emoji world has expanded far beyond that, offering a colorful array of icons for just about anything you wish to express. However, in this flurry of emojis, the critical issue of cultural diversity has emerged, leading to some significant changes in recent iOS and Android updates, allowing for the inclusion of more diverse emojis like a black fist bump or thumbs up.
But is that enough?
A company named Afro Emoji seems to believe there is still more room for improvement. According to AFK Insider, this innovative enterprise has launched an Afro-centric app laden with emojis that those of African descent may more closely relate to. One of its more unique offerings includes an emoji showing someone kneeling—an expression of deep respect in many cultures.
The rise of emojis has been nothing short of meteoric. So much so that these digital symbols have even permeated the social media sphere, with tech giant Facebook planning a progressive ‘dislike’ button style using emojis to convey feelings at any given time. With an estimated 12,500 tweets utilising them every minute, the impact of emojis on digital communication is hard to deny.
In spite of their surging popularity, companies still grapple with the task of monetising these graphical icons—an area where much research is being directed. According to Ad Week, the use of behavioral patterns and sentiments revealed through emoji usage might provide valuable data for more targeted marketing strategies.
However, it may take some time for companies to fully capitalize on emojis. These symbols primarily depict momentary feelings, but long term study might eventually unveil patterns beneficial for marketing operations.
The Afro Emoji app can be downloaded from both the Google Play Store and Apple’s iOS App Store.
And just like that, we’re one step closer to a more diverse and inclusive digital universe. You’re welcome.
[Image embedded of Afro Emoji icon array]
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