In 2016, Apple transitioned its gun emoji from a realistic revolver to a green water pistol, a move that was subsequently adopted by other tech companies. This alteration is viewed as a part of a broader effort to politically address representations of violence in digital symbols. The Unicode Consortium oversees emoji content, and while many symbols have been added, not all requests are accommodated. The history of emoji originates from the late 20th century with previous electronic devices using basic symbol sets, predating modern smartphones and digital communication systems.
In 2016, Apple announced that its gun emoji would now be a green water pistol, prompting other tech companies to follow suit, eliminating representation of real firearms.
The change to non-lethal emoji like the water pistol signifies a political shift in how technology firms address the representation of violence in digital communication.
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