Unicode Unveils Nine New Emojis Including Cracking Face and Meteor for 2024

Ahead of World Emoji Day on July 17, Jennifer Daniel, chair of the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee, revealed nine new emojis set to arrive on devices this spring as part of Unicode 18. Among the highlights is the Cracking Face emoji, depicting a smiling face beginning to crack and crumble, symbolizing a facade of composure hiding inner turmoil. This emoji replaces the initially approved "Face with Squinting Eyes" to better capture contemporary emotional expression.

Another notable addition is the Meteor emoji, designed to clearly distinguish it from the existing Comet emoji. While some platforms previously depicted the comet as a flaming rock entering the atmosphere, Unicode aims to restore the comet’s traditional icy blue appearance and assign the meteor to represent destructive impact or devastation.

The update also officially separates the Monarch butterfly emoji from the Blue Morph butterfly, which until now were inconsistently represented across platforms. The Monarch butterfly carries symbolism of intergenerational resilience and historical memory, while the Blue Morph is associated with aesthetics and curated social media imagery.

Additional new emojis include a lighthouse and two new hand gestures: a left-pointing thumb and a right-pointing thumb. These are expected to expand conversational and expressive possibilities, with their ultimate meanings likely shaped by user adoption worldwide.

Unicode’s latest emoji set reflects evolving cultural nuances and aims to enhance clarity and emotional depth in digital communication.