Emojis are a part of our daily lives, but there’s a lot more to these tiny icons than meets the eye. From courtroom drama to space travel, emojis have found their way into some pretty unexpected places.
Here are some fun and surprising facts about emojis that will make you appreciate them even more!
1. Emojis Were Born in Japan
The very first emoji set was created in 1999 by Shigetaka Kurita for a Japanese mobile platform. It featured just 176 icons, including a heart, umbrella, and smiley face.
2. There’s an Emoji Movie (yes, really)
In 2017, Hollywood released The Emoji Movie, featuring a world inside your phone where emojis live. Despite its critical reception, it brought emojis into pop culture on a new level.
3. Emojis Have Been Used in Court
Believe it or not, emojis have appeared in legal cases – from interpreting threats to analyzing digital tone in text messages. Courts now consider them as part of official communication.
4. The Word “Emoji” Has Nothing to Do With Emotion
“Emoji” comes from the Japanese words e (絵, picture) and moji (文字, character). It’s just a coincidence that it sounds like “emotion”.
5. You Can Submit Your Own Emoji Idea
Got a great emoji concept? You can actually propose it to the Unicode Consortium! There’s a detailed process involving design, justification, and popularity predictions.
6. Oxford’s Word of the Year Was an Emoji
In 2015, Oxford Dictionaries chose the “Face with Tears of Joy” 😂 emoji as the Word of the Year, calling it the most representative form of expression for that year.
7. Emojis Have Different Versions on Every Platform
Even though the code is the same, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Samsung all design their own emoji styles. That’s why a smiley face might look cheerful on one phone but weirdly intense on another.
8. There’s a World Emoji Day
Every year on July 17, the world celebrates World Emoji Day; chosen because that’s the date shown on the calendar emoji 📅.
9. Some Emojis Are Surprisingly Political
Over the years, emojis like the raised fist ✊, rainbow flag 🏳️🌈, and face mask 😷 have taken on deeper political and cultural significance.
10. Emojis Are Still Evolving
New emojis are added each year to reflect modern needs and growing inclusivity, like gender-neutral characters, diverse skin tones, and cultural symbols.
Final Thoughts
Emojis may be small, but their impact is huge: from casual texts to pop culture, legal cases, and beyond.
So next time you hit send on your favorite icon, remember: you’re using a tool with a pretty awesome backstory.
Which of these emoji facts surprised you the most?
Let us know in the comments!