How to Get New Emojis: A Comprehensive Guide
Emojis have become an integral part of our digital communication. These small, often cute, icons or images enable people to express their emotions, thoughts, and ideas in a fun and visual way. They can convey a wide range of emotions, from joy to sadness, anger, love, and excitement, among others. In fact, some studies have shown that the use of emojis has made online communication more nuanced, engaging, and human. However, if you’re still using the same old emojis again and again, you’re missing out on a whole world of new ones. This article will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to get new emojis, including how to create custom emojis of your own.
The Evolution of Emojis
Emojis have been around for decades, evolving from simple emoticons that were created with punctuation and letters. The first set of graphical emoticons was created by Scott Fahlman, a computer scientist, in 1982. These were two-dimensional smiling and frowning faces. However, it wasn’t until 1999 that the first emojis were created in Japan by Shigetaka Kurita, an employee of the Japanese mobile phone network NTT DoCoMo.
The popularity of emojis really took off in the late 2000s when Apple added an emoji keyboard to their iPhone operating system. Since then, emojis have become so popular that they are now used across all digital platforms, including social media platforms, messaging apps, and email clients, among others.
Today, emojis are an essential part of online communication, making it much easier to convey emotions and meaning in our digital conversations.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Activate or Install New Emojis on Your Device
Depending on the device you’re using, getting new emojis could be a little different. Here are a few steps you can follow to ensure you get the latest emojis on your device:
How to Check for Updates
Before you can install any new emojis, you need to ensure that your device is updated to the latest operating system. To check for updates:
- Go to your device’s settings
- Scroll down to “System updates” or “Software update”
- Click on “Check for updates”
If there are any updates available, follow the prompt to download and install them.
How to Download/Install New Emojis
The easiest way to get new emojis is to download them from your device’s app store. Here are the steps to follow:
- Open your app store (Google Play Store, Apple App Store, etc.)
- Search for “Emoji Update” or similar keywords that will associate with the app which provides more emoji options.
- Download the app of your choice. There are several free emojis apps to choose from, some of which have ads or in-app purchases.
- Open the app once it’s installed and follow the prompts to enable the new emojis.
How to Use the New Emojis
Once you’ve downloaded and installed the new emojis, they’ll be added to your device’s keyboard automatically. To use the new emojis:
- Open the app or message where you want to use the emoji
- Tap the emoji icon (usually the smiley face) on your device’s keyboard
- Scroll left and right, or up and down, until you find the new emoji you want to use
- Tap the emoji to add it to your message or post
How to Submit Your Own Emoji Ideas to Be Considered for Future Releases
If you have an idea for an emoji that doesn’t exist yet, you can submit it to the Unicode Consortium, the governing body responsible for creating new emojis. Here’s how it works:
The Process of Submitting Emoji Ideas
- Visit the Unicode Consortium’s website
- Read the submission guidelines carefully
- Complete a proposal (which includes drawings or graphics) to illustrate and describe how the new emoji would be used. Include the reasons why it should be added to the Unicode list and the cultural significance of the emoji.
- Wait for consideration. The Unicode Consortium meets twice a year, where they go over all the proposals submitted and select new ones to be added to the Unicode list.
- If your submission is rejected, you can get feedback and resubmit again, but it will have to wait until the next review process.
Tips for Creating and Submitting Successful Emoji Ideas
Here are some useful tips for creating and submitting successful emoji ideas:
- Be unique: Think of an idea that is not already covered by existing emojis
- Demonstrate cultural significance: Try to show how your idea relates to a specific culture or language
- Visualize carefully: Your proposal should have a visual representation of your emoji idea.
- Explain the relevance of your emoji idea: Clearly illustrate why your suggested emoji is essential, and how it can add value to digital communication.
A List of Popular Third-Party Emoji Apps to Download for Additional Emoji Options
If you’d like to expand your emoji options beyond those that come with your device, try downloading third-party emoji apps. Here are some of the most popular:
- Bitmoji: A personal emoji app that allows you to create cartoon versions of yourself and share them with your friends.
- Gboard: A keyboard app developed by Google with multiple language options and many emoji choices to offer.
- Facemoji: Provides plenty of free and exclusive emojis that you can send to others.
- Emoji Keyboard Cute Emoticons: Offers a vast selection of colorful and expressive emojis along with enchanting stickers.
- Swiftmoji: A keyboard app that fast anticipates the emoji and predicts the emojis based on your written texts.
Why users opt for third-party emoji apps.
- For variety: To get more options/variations of existing emojis
- To get personalized emojis: Some apps allow you to personalize your emojis with your images.
- To get specialized emojis: Some apps provide emoji options based on specialized fields or industries. Specific inclusions or illustrations that are not in the standard emoji list.
How to Download and Install Third-Party Emoji Apps
Installing third-party emojis app is typically straightforward. Follow these steps:
- Go to your device’s app store
- Search for the third-party emoji app you want to download
- Tap “Download” or “Install” to begin the installation process
- Once the installation is complete, open the app and follow the prompts to enable the new emojis
- Change your device’s keyboard to the new app’s keyboard to access the new emojis in any application.
Exploring the Cultural Significance of Certain Emojis and How to Incorporate Them into Daily Conversations
It is essential to use the appropriate emoji, as they can also be culturally significant. Some emojis may be interpreted differently based on the culture or country, which they are being used in. So, whether you’re communicating with someone who is from a different culture or just want to use the best emoji, it’s crucial to understand the cultural significance of some of them.
The Importance of Using Appropriate Emojis
Using the wrong or inappropriate emojis in a conversation can make the situation awkward or, at worse, cause misunderstanding with your recipient. Imagine using a laughing emoji when someone shared sad news or dropping a heart emoji in an unrelated context.
How to Interpret Cultural Variations of Certain Emojis
- Different representation: Some emojis may represent different things in different cultures and countries. Take the Red heart emoji, for example, it can signify romantic love in most cultures, but it can also symbolize friendship or closeness in some Asian cultures.
- Facial expressions interpretation: Some facial expressions may not get perceived the same way in different cultures or countries. For instance, in the US, an upside-down smirk can signify sarcasm. However, in Japan, it is called a ‘cringe’ and depicts bitterness or disappointment.
- Color variations: Some colors used in an emoji may have different meanings in other cultures, as well. The white color in a particular culture signifies purity, while in others, it signifies mourning.
Tips for Integrating Emojis into Your Daily Conversations
- Be careful and cautious
- make use of emojis to clarify intent or tone of a conversation
- Don’t rely too heavily on emojis. Make sure that you are also using words that precisely describe what you mean.
- Take note of the context of the conversation before employing your emojis.
Tips on Creating Your Custom Emoji with Various Online Tools and Resources
Creating personalized emojis has become increasingly popular with the growing trend of personalized keyboard options on mobile devices. Here are some tools you can use to create your unique and personalized emojis:
Overview of Online Resources for Emoji Creation
- Bitmoji: a mobile app that permits users to create their unique avatars
- Moji Maker: available on both iOS and Android, Moji Maker lets users create personalized emojis using a variety of shapes and parts.
- Emoji Maker: a free tool that lets users create emojis by combining and customizing parts and items.
Tools for Creating Custom Emojis
Once you choose an online tool, follow these simple steps:
- Download the app or visit the website
- Choose the type of emoji you want to create
- Personalize the emoji using various features and tools
- Preview your custom emoji
- Save your emoji and add it to your keyboard so that you can use it for upcoming conversations.
Tips to Help Create Unique and Personalized Emojis
- Consider creating emojis that depict the things you enjoy or are a significant part of your life, like your pets, hobbies, or favorite food.
- Go for simplicity when creating your emojis.
- Consider modeling your emoji after some of your favorite existing emojis
Conclusion
Getting new emojis is an easy way to make online communication more fun, engaging, and nuanced. Whether you want to submit your emoji idea, create customized options or download third-party apps, there are plenty of options to choose from. By following the steps and guidelines in this article, you’ll be able to add new and exciting emojis to your device’s keyboard in no time.
It is essential to use emojis appropriately and understand cultural significance across various cultures so that you do not offend the recipient.
Lastly, don’t forget to have fun with your emojis.
