Highsnobiety

Apple's newest emoji says a lot about the current state of the world. Coming with iOS 14.2 is an update to the mask emoji, which has become one of the most used characters during the coronavirus outbreak. Now, the mask emoji will include a smile beneath the face covering.

For much of the world, wearing a mask has become an everyday thing due to the spread of COVID-19. Since a mask no longer implies that someone is sick, Apple is aiming to further normalize face shields by adding a smile to the mask emoji. The new emoji simply replaces the downturned eyes of the old mask emoji with eyebrows and blushing cheeks, ultimately implementing the existing smiling face emoji underneath the mask.

"This subtle change to 😷 Face with Medical Mask appears to carry the most weight, in the sense that mask wearing has become a somewhat political act in the United States," Emojipedia said. "It's a very 2020 emoji update."

You'll be able to use the new and improved mask emoji when iOS 14.2 releases to the public. It is currently in beta, with a launch date projected for October or November.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.
We Recommend
  • Did Pharrell Just Tease a Louis Vuitton x Apple Collab?
    • Style
  • Pharrell Louis Vuitton-ified Apple's AirTags
    • Style
  • Apple's New iPad Pro Might Replace Your Laptop
    • Culture
  • Tim Apple's Nike Sneakers Do Not Cook
    • Sneakers
  • CPFM Ain't Done With Its Puffy Nike AF1s Just Yet
    • Sneakers
What To Read Next
  • If the Shoe Fits: Footwear Phenom Paul Andrew Steps Into New Role at Sergio Rossi
    • Style
  • Chappell Roan Is Wary of Fame (& Dressing the Part)
    • Style
  • We Found the Best Outdoor Speakers for Summer So You Don’t Have To
    • Lifestyle
  • Pharrell’s $850K Bag & Mystery adidas Are an Olympic-Level Flex
    • Style
  • No One Saw Fashion's Camouflage Revival Coming — Literally
    • Style
  • Brutalist Beauties: Nike's New AJ4 Is a Monochromatic Masterpiece
    • Sneakers
    • sponsored

Web Accessibility Statement

Titel Media GmbH (Highsnobiety), is committed to facilitating and improving the accessibility and usability of its Website, www.highsnobiety.com. Titel Media GmbH strives to ensure that its Website services and content are accessible to persons with disabilities including users of screen reader technology. To accomplish this, Titel Media GmbH tests, remediates and maintains the Website in-line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which also bring the Website into conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Disclaimer

Please be aware that our efforts to maintain accessibility and usability are ongoing. While we strive to make the Website as accessible as possible some issues can be encountered by different assistive technology as the range of assistive technology is wide and varied.

Contact Us

If, at any time, you have specific questions or concerns about the accessibility of any particular webpage on this Website, please contact us at accessibility@highsnobiety.com, +49 (0)30 235 908 500. If you do encounter an accessibility issue, please be sure to specify the web page and nature of the issue in your email and/or phone call, and we will make all reasonable efforts to make that page or the information contained therein accessible for you.