WHEN the next batch of emoji arrive there is a certain type that most definitely will not feature, after bosses behind the symbols put their foot down.
The Unicode Consortium which overseas all emoji has decided it will no longer accept requests for new flags.
2
Flags have apparently become too much hassle because they are constantly evolving and the addition of one “creates exclusivity at the expense of others”.
They are the biggest emoji category with a strong association tied to identity, but are also by far the least used, creating more headache than necessary.
“If the Emoji Subcommittee recommends the addition of a Catalonia flag emoji, then it looks like favouritism unless all the other subdivisions of Spain are added,” group leader Jennifer Daniel explained in a blog post.
“And if those are added, what about the subdivisions of Japan or Namibia, or the Cantons of Liechtenstein?
“The inclusion of new flags will always continue to emphasise the exclusion of others.”
She pointed towards the rainbow flag, one of most used flag emoji, that has already been redesigned many times.
“Identities are fluid and unstoppable which makes mapping them to a formal unchanging universal character set incompatible,” Daniel added.
“We realise closing this door may come as a disappointment — after all, flags often serve as a rallying cry to be seen, heard, recognised, and understood.”
Most read in Tech
With various gender flags emerging, the committee is proposing a pink, light blue and grey heart be added so people can form identity combinations themselves.
They should launch at some point next year.
However, there is one exception to the ban on new flags.
If a country gains independence and is recognised by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization), a flag to represent it will be automatically recommended without the need for a proposal.
Unicode has also made it clear that it does not decide the appearance of flags, so if a flag changes design for geopolitical reasons it is down to phone makers to update them.
2
Best Phone and Gadget tips and hacks
Looking for tips and hacks for your phone? Want to find those secret features within social media apps? We have you covered…
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]
This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
