Google and Facebook adopt water gun emoji, leaving Microsoft holding the pistol

Google is the latest company to get rid of the gun with a new emoji update for Android users. The change to a bright orange and yellow water pistol, which is now developing, mimics the changes made by Apple, WhatsApp, Twitter and Samsung in recent years. That leaves Microsoft as the only major platform with the realistic gun emoji. It's true, Facebook still uses it, but a spokesperson for the company confirmed to Emojipedia that it would also be replacing its emoji gun with a toy water gun. The Verge contacted Microsoft for comments.

The move makes Google's gun emoji correspond to other platforms. Therefore, if a friend sends the playful water gun of an iPhone, it will now look similar on an Android device or in a tweet without any lack of involuntary communication.

Ironically, Microsoft initially showed the toy's emoji as a toy, but changed it to a revolver in 2016 as part of its emoji redesign project. With Google's latest move (and Facebook), Microsoft's weapons emoji places it in a philosophical position with the other giant technology companies based in the US. UU Where armed violence is a big concern. As we noted earlier, in 2016 Apple successfully pushed to remove the rifle icon from the standardized emoji collection.

Image: Emojipedia

Google has made several changes to its pistol emoji over the years, starting with a black pistol in 2012, a vintage pistol in 2013, then revolvers in 2014 and 2017, and Now, a water pistol. This recent change, however, is the most complete and puts Microsoft in an awkward position.