But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids Episode: Who Invented Emoji? Release Date: May 16, 2025
Introduction
In this captivating episode of But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids, hosted by Jane Lindholm from Vermont Public, young listener Layla from Melbourne, New Jersey, poses an intriguing question: "How are emojis invented?" This episode delves deep into the origins, evolution, and cultural significance of emojis, unraveling their journey from simple symbols to a global language of digital communication.
Understanding Emoji
Jane Lindholm begins by ensuring all listeners are on the same page about what emojis are. "Emoji are small images, symbols, or icons used in electronic communication," she explains early in the episode. She illustrates this by describing common uses, such as sending a heart to express affection or a smiley face to convey happiness, highlighting how these symbols enhance digital conversations by adding emotional context.
The Birth of Emoji in Japan
Paul Galloway, a collection specialist at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, provides a historical perspective on emojis. "Emoji developed over a long period, but in particular in Japan in the 1990s," he notes at [02:55]. He explains that the term "emoji" is derived from the Japanese words "e" (picture) and "moji" (character), literally translating to "picture character."
Paul recounts how, during the pre-cell phone era, Japanese youth innovatively used pagers with number codes to communicate messages like "I love you" (01069) or "thank you" (049). Recognizing the limitations of numeric codes, the Japanese company NTT DoCoMo introduced pagers and later cell phones that supported emojis, allowing users to send images instead of just numbers. This innovation significantly enhanced personal communication, making it more expressive and efficient.
Evolution from Emoticons to Emojis
Elizabeth Newcamp clarifies the distinction between emoji and emoticons. "Technically, [the shruggy face] is not an emoji. Emoji are actual pictures, and emoticons are the ones that are made with letters and numbers," she explains at [05:39]. Paul expands on this by differentiating between Western emoticons, which are typically sideways, and Japanese kaomoji, which are more complex and can represent a wider range of expressions using additional keyboard characters.
Technological Advancements and Global Adoption
Paul discusses the technological constraints of the 1990s, which resulted in the first emojis being "very simple and blocky" ([07:15]). These early emojis were limited by the primitive computer and cell phone technology of the time, featuring single-color, pixelated designs.
The transformation of emojis from Japan to the global stage began when tech giants like Google and Apple integrated emoji support into their platforms. "In 2006, Google added emoji to Gmail, and in 2010, Apple added emoji to the iPhone," Paul states ([05:35]). This widespread adoption fueled the rapid increase in emoji usage worldwide, with billions being sent daily across various messaging platforms.
Standardization through Unicode
A significant turning point in the evolution of emojis was their standardization by the Unicode Consortium. "Unicode is this organization, and their goal is not related to emoji specifically. It's related to communication and getting all the languages that people use... able to be sent from one device to another across platforms," Jane Solomon, an editor for Emojipedia, explains at [10:50].
Jane details how Unicode began incorporating emojis around 2008-2010 to ensure consistent representation across different devices and platforms. This standardization means that when you send an emoji, it's the underlying code that gets transmitted, allowing the receiver's device to display the appropriate image. She emphasizes the challenges this posed due to varying interpretations and designs of emojis across different platforms before Unicode's intervention.
Emojis in Modern Communication
The podcast explores how emojis have become an integral part of modern communication. Paul reflects on the potential for misinterpretation: "If you send that picture to you and I mean one thing and you think I mean something else, how are we really effectively communicating?" ([15:21]). He argues that just like in spoken language, where tone and facial expressions add nuance, emojis add a layer of emotional context to text-based conversations.
Jane concurs, highlighting the flexibility of emojis: "There's no right or wrong way to use an emoji... They're really just this form of expression that's out there and available to play with," she says at [17:34]. This adaptability allows users to convey complex emotions and intentions, making digital conversations more personal and dynamic.
Emojis as Art
A fascinating segment of the episode features a discussion with Paul about the artistic significance of emojis. "Emoji were a really important moment in communication design and how we could tell the story of where we are right now," he shares ([13:38]). The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) even showcases the original blocky emojis from the 1990s, emphasizing their role in visual culture and communication design.
Paul elaborates on how emojis bridge the gap between art and everyday communication, stating, "Art is a form of communication... And we can communicate ideas visually," ([13:38]). By elevating emojis to the status of art, MoMA highlights their impact on contemporary visual language and digital interaction.
The Future of Emoji: Creation and Expansion
Jane provides insights into how new emojis are created and added to the ever-growing library. "Anyone from the public can submit an emoji proposal... then the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee... reads the proposal and discusses the merits," she explains at [19:15]. With over 3,664 emojis available as of the episode's recording, the selection process has become more rigorous, ensuring that new additions reflect diverse cultures, experiences, and innovations.
Jane also shares her personal favorite emoji, the melting face: "It's a smiley face and the bottom looks as if it's melting. It can express that maybe you're trying to look happy, but things are kind of falling apart," she remarks at [20:19]. This emoji exemplifies the nuanced emotions that modern emojis can convey, resonating with users on multiple levels.
Conclusion
The episode concludes with a call to young listeners to engage creatively with emojis. "What kind of emoji would you propose if you were going to create a new one? Draw a picture of the emoji you think should be there and have your adults send us a photo of it," Jane encourages ([20:57]). This interactive segment not only fosters creativity but also invites the next generation to contribute to the evolving language of digital communication.
Notable Quotes:
- Paul Galloway ([02:55]): "Emoji developed over a long period, but in particular in Japan in the 1990s."
- Elizabeth Newcamp ([05:39]): "Technically, [the shruggy face] is not an emoji. Emoji are actual pictures, and emoticons are the ones that are made with letters and numbers."
- Paul Galloway ([15:21]): "If you send that picture to you and I mean one thing and you think I mean something else, how are we really effectively communicating?"
- Jane Solomon ([17:34]): "There's no right or wrong way to use an emoji... They're really just this form of expression that's out there and available to play with."
- Paul Galloway ([13:38]): "Emoji were a really important moment in communication design and how we could tell the story of where we are right now."
- Jane Solomon ([20:19]): "It's a smiley face and the bottom looks as if it's melting. It can express that maybe you're trying to look happy, but things are kind of falling apart."
This episode of But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids masterfully unpacks the multifaceted world of emojis, blending historical context, technological advancements, cultural impact, and artistic significance. Whether you're a parent, educator, or a young listener, this discussion offers valuable insights into how these tiny symbols have profoundly shaped modern communication.