WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion active users. Part of WhatsApp’s appeal is its wide range of emojis and stickers that allow users to express themselves in creative ways. Recently, WhatsApp introduced a new set of emojis to its platform. In this article, we will look at some of the new emojis added, examine how WhatsApp updates its emoji catalog, and discuss the significance of emojis in digital communication.
What are the new emojis added by WhatsApp?
In its latest emoji update, WhatsApp has added around 110 new emojis to its catalog. Here are some of the more notable and interesting additions:
New smiley emojis
– Smiling Face with Tear: Represents someone smiling while crying tears of joy. Conveys mixed emotions.
– Saluting Face: Portrays a smiling face saluting. Used to show respect and praise.
– Face with Open Eyes and Hand Over Mouth: Depicts shock, disbelief, or feeling guilty about something said.
– Rightwards Hand: Commonly used in “high five” gestures. Conveys agreement, collaboration, or celebration.
New hand gestures
– Handshake: Represents agreement, welcome, congratulations, or collaboration.
– Index Pointing at the Viewer: Directs the reader’s attention or indicates “you”. Also known as the “pointing finger” emoji.
– Palm Up Hand: Conveys an offering, request, or the need for patience. Also known as the “open hand” emoji.
New people and fantasy emojis
– Pregnant Man: Promotes gender inclusivity related to pregnancy. Part of an effort to provide more gender-neutral emojis.
– Pregnant Person: Gender-inclusive alternative to pregnant woman emoji.
– Troll: Represents folklore creature or an internet troll. Used in joking contexts.
– Goblin: Depicts a mythical creature, often seen as mischievous or greedy. Indicates playfulness or silliness.
New animal emojis
– Goose: Represents the waterfowl bird species. Frequently used in reference to the idiom “silly goose” or as an affectionate name.
– Donkey: Depicts the equine animal, known for being stubborn. Used to represent persistence despite difficulty.
– Moose: Illustrates this large deer species. Mainly used in Canada and northern U.S. contexts.
– Wing: Represents the ability to fly. Frequently paired with a bird emoji.
New food emojis
– Beans: Depicts canned or cooked beans. Used in contexts related to food, gardening, or environmentally friendly diets.
-pouring liquid: Represents pouring a drink, like tea or coffee. Used to offer a beverage or indicate mixing drinks.
– Jar: Illustrates a glass Mason jar. Often represents home canning or food preservation.
– Ginger: Depicts the ginger root. Used in relation to cooking, herbal medicine, or natural remedies.
New object emojis
– Hair Pick: Represents a comb or pick used for Afro-textured hair care. Part of an effort to provide more culturally inclusive emojis.
– Wireless: Illustrates a wireless internet connection. Used to represent WiFi, poor connectivity, or the internet in general.
– Identification Card: Depicts a non-specific ID card, like a driver’s license or student ID. Represents personal identification.
– Mirror: Portrays a classic handheld mirror. Denotes self-reflection, introspection, beauty, and vanity.
How does WhatsApp update its emoji catalog?
WhatsApp regularly adds new emojis to its platform to keep the visual language fresh and relevant. Here is an overview of how WhatsApp updates its emoji catalog:
Unicode releases
WhatsApp, like all major tech platforms, adds new emojis based on the Unicode Consortium’s Unicode Standard. Unicode provides specifications for consistent encoding and representation of text in computers. It also defines coding sequences for new emojis. Twice a year, Unicode releases a new set of approved emojis. Recent Unicode 14.0 additions like the saluting face and beans are now on WhatsApp.
Operating system updates
Since WhatsApp is used on mobile operating systems like iOS and Android, its emoji set is dependent on OS updates. When Apple or Google release OS updates with new emojis, WhatsApp also makes those emojis available for iPhone and Android users respectively. For example, pregnant man and pregnant person emojis were introduced in iOS 15.4 and Android 13, before coming to WhatsApp.
In-house designs
In some cases, WhatsApp designs its own emoji images. While adhering to Unicode standards, WhatsApp takes creative license with the visual representation of some emojis. Their in-house emoji artwork gives WhatsApp emojis a distinct look and feel compared to other platforms.
Rolling out updates
Due to its vast global user base, WhatsApp does not update all users with new emojis simultaneously. Emoji updates roll out in phases over a period of weeks and months following Unicode releases and OS updates. This allows WhatsApp to monitor any issues before the worldwide rollout.
Why are emojis important for digital communication?
Emojis have become an integral part of digital conversations for several reasons:
Enhance self-expression
Emojis enable users to communicate not just words but also emotions and non-verbal cues. The visual icons convey nuanced feelings that plain text cannot. This allows for richer self-expression.
Add color and fun
Emojis introduce humor, wit, and fun into conversations. The whimsical icons lighten the mood of serious or dull conversations. Visually appealing emojis increase engagement and entertainment value.
Universal communication
Emojis overcome language barriers, allowing people who speak different languages to communicate and connect. The visual icons transcend cultures, regions, and generational divides.
Non-verbal communication
In face-to-face interactions, people rely heavily on non-verbal cues like facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice. Emojis simulate this non-verbal communication in digital messages.
Context and clarity
Emojis provide context that plain text alone cannot. They clarify tone and intent, reducing miscommunication. A joke or sarcasm is evident with a winking or smiley emoji.
Trends and culture
Emojis represent the latest cultural trends, events, and moods. They are continuously updated to align with evolving pop culture and shared experiences. For instance, the syringe emoji gained popularity during the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
Examples of using the new WhatsApp emojis
Here are some examples of how the new WhatsApp emojis can be effectively used in conversations:
Smiling Face with Tear
– I cried tears of joy at my graduation ceremony 😂
– This video of baby pandas is so cute, it’s making me cry-laugh! 😂
Saluting Face
– Congrats on acing that test, you smarty pants! 🫡
– Mad respect for healthcare workers on the frontlines 🫡
Face with Hand Over Mouth
– Omg I can’t believe I said that out loud 😮💨 Sorry!
– When your friend spills all the tea 😮💨
Handshake
– Looking forward to working together 🫱🏼🫲🏼
– Deal! It’s a handshake agreement 🫱🏼🫲🏼
Pregnant Man
– My husband and I have some exciting news – we’re expecting! 🫃🏻
– Shoutout to all the amazing pregnant people out there 🫃🏽🫄🏾
Jar
– Freshly canned green beans from the garden! 🏺
– Who’s ready for some homemade lemonade? 🍋🏺
Wing
– My spirit animal is a bird, always longing to fly away🦅
– This airline seat is so small, I feel like my wings are clipped✈️🦶
WhatsApp’s emoji updates improve user experience
With over 2 billion users worldwide, WhatsApp has a responsibility to regularly improve and optimize user experience on its platform. Updating the emoji catalog is an important part of enhancing engagement, interaction, and self-expression for WhatsApp users across cultures. The latest emoji additions reflect WhatsApp’s commitment to responding to evolving online communication trends and user needs. They enable universal, playful, and emotionally nuanced communication between people from diverse backgrounds. WhatsApp frequently collaborates with Unicode, OS providers, and its own design team to ensure its emoji selection represents the latest digital language and resonates with its global community of users.
| Emoji | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 😂 | Smiling Face with Tear | Smiling while crying tears of joy |
| 🫡 | Saluting Face | Gesture of respect and praise |
| 😮💨 | Face with Hand Over Mouth | Conveys shock, disbelief, or regret over something said |
| 🫱🏼🫲🏼 | Handshake | Agreement, greeting, or parting gesture |
| 🫃🏻 | Pregnant Man | Gender-inclusive pregnancy emoji |
| 🏺 | Jar | Represents containers like jars or jugs |
| 🦅 | Eagle | Illustrates this bird of prey species |
Conclusion
WhatsApp continuously evolves its emoji offerings to match the changing digital landscape. With its latest update, WhatsApp has introduced over 100 new emojis that enrich user messaging experiences and make conversations more engaging. The new emojis cover a diverse range representing people, gestures, animals, food, and objects. They enable users worldwide to express a fuller range of ideas and emotions in their digital communication. WhatsApp adds new emojis based on Unicode releases, mobile OS updates, and its own in-house designs. Overall, the new emojis reflect WhatsApp’s commitment to optimizing its platform for more enjoyable, universally understandable messaging.