Get Ready iPhone Users, Your Emojis Are Getting An Overhaul

On Monday, Apple announced several emoji changes that will take place in the next version of the iPhone and iPad operating system, iOS 10.

Apple is switching over several emojis in order to take a friendlier approach at appealing to the masses. One big switch is taking out the pistol emoji and replacing it with a green water gun. The emoji swap out will also show women doing stereotypically male jobs such as detective, construction worker, and police officer. There will also be new female athletes, a pride flag, and family options for single parents added as well.

The pistol, along with other weapon emojis are being blamed for unlawful incidents as well. In Virginia, a 12-year-old was charged after allegedly threatening her school on Instagram with a post that included a gun, knife, and bomb emoji. And in Brooklyn, NY, a teenager was arrested for posting a police emoji with multiple pistol emojis pointing at his head. Later on, the charges were dropped.

An organization called New Yorkers Against Gun Violence was started last year as a campaign to get Apple to replace the pistol emoji. They launched disarmtheiphone.com, and sent a letter to have the firearm emoji removed "as a symbolic gesture to limit gun accessibility."

Apple is not alone in terms of companies using the realistic pistol emojis. Google, Samsung, Facebook, and Twitter all use it as well. However, Microsoft has used the toy gun emoji instead throughout.

Apple's release of the iOS 10 will take place this fall.

Source: CNN Money