What would we do without emojis? Over the years, these little yellow faces have evolved into a whole pictographic language that’s so relevant to our times. I’ve had entire conversations with people using a combination of emojis, punctuations, memes and gifs! They aren’t just a part of our phone’s keyboard, but an indispensible part of our daily communication.
How many of us remember the very first emojis to appear on our phones though?
Exactly a decade ago, on November 21, 2008, Apple had released its very first emoji font and keyboard On its iPhone OS 2.2. To commemorate their 10-year-anniversary, Emojipedia decided to take Twitter on a walk down emoji memory lane!
🎈 🥂 Happy birthday, iPhone emoji 👯♀️ 🎉 https://t.co/qFWxIw2Pjb pic.twitter.com/RdEkxlENdH
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
Emojipedia’s official Twitter account showcased how the emojis had changed during these ten years since they first released.
📲 10 years ago today: Apple releases iPhone OS 2.2 with an emoji font and keyboard for the first time. November 21, 2008. pic.twitter.com/EONYIjIni9
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
In fact, they even made a 2008 v/s 2018 comparison thread of several of the emojis that underwent major changes and look different now!
It’s a nice refresher of emoji history and perfect flashback to the first time we began getting addicted to talking in emoticons!
😲 Astonished Face on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/ajoEkNzgvQ pic.twitter.com/d6wi5ygjRq
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
From the different faces emojis to the dancing girl, from the hammer to the backpack, from the computer to the bank, loads of emojis have undergone changes.
👼 Baby Angel on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/pmo9t3k9xo pic.twitter.com/5X15YFlyOA
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
🍳 Cooking on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/p7mf5HLuVL pic.twitter.com/ZsqLF8RpCp
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
Like this one, where the characters have proper facial features instrad of just blank faces…
💃 Woman Dancing on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/TBvgoG3QUq pic.twitter.com/VbTRpUWyG8
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
🏦 Bank on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/uvTaRRMGmr pic.twitter.com/1vGRR8FwBz
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
🛀 Person Taking Bath on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/oJCRIdCkrz pic.twitter.com/7M21Tlwfla
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
🍆 Eggplant on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/zQMjtGoiCX pic.twitter.com/KbeyJ7fPKp
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
🚏 Bus Stop on iPhone. The original is similar to many bus stop signs in Japan and the current version appears designed after bus stops around Cupertino #2008v2018 https://t.co/b5spzcdsiz pic.twitter.com/BElC8GORoN
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
🐫 Two-Hump Camel (original name: Bactrian Camel) on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/KawK1Wc0An pic.twitter.com/TIKOEcOrMe
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
🏰 Castle on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/GvDs11QsnS pic.twitter.com/jM4HtoGrx2
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
😁 Beaming Face With Smiling Eyes (original name: Grinning Face With Smiling Eyes) on iPhone. Updated for increased cross-platform compatibility in 2016 #2008v2018 https://t.co/2HgVeYm43f pic.twitter.com/uMMLpRYUuP
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
🔨 Hammer on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/I5pObSiHxI pic.twitter.com/G2ds0oLWSb
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
🏃 Person Running (original name: Runner) on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/7KQSOaszCp pic.twitter.com/0xqKOTkio8
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
🍂 Fallen Leaf on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/dWTfb7cjMj pic.twitter.com/4oPrfbJeqY
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
🙏 Folded Hands on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/KlAKoVRR8b pic.twitter.com/gYp27HmrBu
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
⛪ Church on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/3jJnEHdfGq pic.twitter.com/H0bahq68Ig
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
⛳ Flag in Hole on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/JnIT32BvrU pic.twitter.com/8gnGzFdi0L
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
🎐 Wind Chime on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/niuLQAdqPi pic.twitter.com/7CKtx3A1PN
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
🔫 Pistol on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/ILyjRd2Rfe pic.twitter.com/g4q8eBmknK
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
👲 Man With Chinese Cap existed in original Japanese emoji sets to represent a "stereotypical Chinese person". Over time this design was updated to make the Gua Pi Mao (traditional Chinese cap) the distinguishing feature https://t.co/WUcQLgjgRQ pic.twitter.com/lGcgHjLxj6
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
📠 Fax Machine on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/CRx2UhchAk pic.twitter.com/4HumCYzX1j
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
🗽 Statue of Liberty on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/lkcXyZz66u pic.twitter.com/7IzgVfAzXP
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
💻 Laptop Computer (original name: Personal Computer) on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/iCdn50vnlF (the 🖥️ Desktop Computer emoji is now used for display of an iMac on Apple platforms) pic.twitter.com/p608qZDe1S
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
👷 Construction Worker no longer displays the green plus / cross on the helmet shown in 2008. This is used in Japan as a safety reminder in construction zones #2008v2018 https://t.co/ENbQbhQDMV pic.twitter.com/K7paQWGhjn
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
🐚 Spiral Shell on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/WxeZcTy0Al pic.twitter.com/Ora8ZJieJr
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 21, 2018
💁 Person Tipping Hand (original name: Information Desk Person) on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/m7l3EzXh6p pic.twitter.com/xXoVKuuUMh
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 22, 2018
🌄 Sunrise Over Mountains on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/o8YsErz2FE pic.twitter.com/swLuZyw6iH
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 22, 2018
🏪 Convenience Store on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/vp7YPODwBO pic.twitter.com/5tFnDGCs4T
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 22, 2018
👫 Man and Woman Holding Hands on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/EI0JE0qMZi pic.twitter.com/UzEcXwnyAn
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 22, 2018
📳 Vibration Mode on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/HMkK1qNFTG pic.twitter.com/3JVkJ2yIST
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 22, 2018
🚇 Metro on iPhone #2008v2018 where 'IL2' in the 2018 emoji may be a reference to the building at Apple's Infinite Loop campus used for iPhone development https://t.co/iLdmlqD5gV pic.twitter.com/j7w1E8OQpK
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 22, 2018
😂 Face With Tears of Joy on iPhone #2008v2018 – no major changes, but the shadow is gone now https://t.co/qoDQ98JA2L pic.twitter.com/AghDFDmjwM
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 22, 2018
🎓 Graduation Cap on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/h9MUbTKT4T pic.twitter.com/twY2FqSJwQ
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 22, 2018
🚀 Rocket on iPhone #2008v2018 https://t.co/jZNvnx7QJK pic.twitter.com/GLFrzQOZo9
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 22, 2018
♠️ Spade Suit on iPhone #2008v2018 – all card suits previously appeared as playing cards ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦ https://t.co/Xk9jDEwyAt pic.twitter.com/ONWJjDXXAY
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 22, 2018
🎒 Backpack (original name: School Satchel) was originally designed in a style of bag commonly found in Japanese schools. The newer iPhone emoji looks closer to an American-style backpack #2008v2018 https://t.co/IcLoNyPiWr pic.twitter.com/0nkwbLCXUW
— Emojipedia 📙 (@Emojipedia) November 23, 2018
Well, looks like we’ve come a long way since 2008! And definitely for the better!