Skip to main content

Emojis may expand skin color options

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

A proposal to expand the skin color options for emojis may get the thumbs up from those calling for more diversity in the icons.

Emojis are cartoon-like pictograms — such as smiley faces or hearts — that have become popular in texts and online chats to express emotion.

Unicode Consortium, the nonprofit organization that sets the standards for these pictograms, said in a proposal that is considering adding five new skin colors. The default emoji face was designed to be generic, but Unicode says users been clamoring for changes to better reflect global diversity.

The proposal is still under review but could lead to changes for many users as many operating systems are based on Unicode standards.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Emergency guide: What you should do to prepare for emergencies

By WTOP Staff
WASHINGTON — Do you know what you'd do if an emergency hits? What if you're at work, your spouse is stuck in traffic and your children are in school? There's no way to plan for every emergency, but you can make sure you're prepared for different scenarios, including making a plan for your family and building a kit of emergency supplies.
Read Next Story

Related News

Cards, gifts cross religious lines

Mind your mouth: How oral health affects overall health

5 questions to ask before buying a winter home