Introduction
Emojis have become an integral part of our daily communications, adding color and emotion to our textual messages. However, not all proposed emojis make it to our keyboards. The Unicode Consortium, the organization responsible for standardizing emojis, receives numerous proposals every year, but many of them are rejected for various reasons. So, why do some emojis fail to gain approval?
The Emoji Proposal Process
To be considered by the Unicode Consortium, an emoji must be submitted through a formal proposal. This proposal must justify why the emoji deserves to be added, considering criteria such as compatibility, intended usage, and the absence of existing duplicates. The proposals are then reviewed by a subcommittee that decides their fate.
Rejection Criteria
Cultural Relevance
The Unicode Consortium places great importance on the cultural relevance of emojis. An emoji that might not be understood or could be perceived as offensive in certain cultures is less likely to be accepted.
Anticipated Usage Frequency
Another crucial criterion is the anticipated usage frequency. For example, the "sympathetic face" emoji proposed by Mark Davis and Peter Edberg in 2014 was rejected, likely due to its low anticipated demand by users.
Duplicates and Similarities
Proposals that appear too similar to existing emojis are often rejected to avoid redundancy. For instance, a "smiling face with hand raised" might be considered too close to existing greeting emojis.
Cases of Rejected Emojis
Premenstrual Syndrome Emoji
In 2016, Svenska Cellulosa AB proposed an emoji representing premenstrual syndrome. While relevant for a portion of the population, the emoji was not accepted, possibly due to its specific nature and potentially limited usage.
Face with Question Marks Emoji
Tayfun Karadeniz proposed an emoji of a "face with question marks as eyes." This was rejected, likely due to its visual complexity and potentially ambiguous understanding.
Why It Matters
The rejection of an emoji might seem trivial, but it has broader implications on how communication evolves in our digital society. Each rejected emoji is a missed opportunity to represent an aspect of culture or daily life.
Conclusion
Rejected emoji proposals by the Unicode Consortium highlight the complexity of deciding which symbols deserve a place on our digital keyboards. These decisions influence how we express emotions and share cultures. For decision-makers and entrepreneurs, understanding this process can provide insights into how standards are set in the digital world.
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