Discord family emoji makeover: Why the silhouettes took over

If you’ve recently noticed that Discord’s family emojis have gone through a dramatic transformation, you’re not alone. Gone are the detailed, gender-specific family representations, replaced by sleek, silhouette-based designs. While some users are scratching their heads (or cracking jokes) about the change, the story behind this emoji evolution is more about Unicode standards than Discord’s design choices.

Previously, Discord’s family emojis were vibrant and specific, showcasing various family structures, including those that represented LGBTQ+ families. These emojis were a hit for their inclusivity and clarity. However, as of 2024, those detailed designs have been replaced with minimalist silhouettes. The new designs feature generic outlines of families, such as one adult and one child, two adults and two children, and so on.

The change has left some users puzzled. One user humorously pointed out the lack of variety in the new designs, quipping, “Oh man, which one do I choose, do I choose the parents with 2 children, or the parents with 2 children???” It’s a valid question — why replace diverse, colorful emojis with seemingly identical silhouettes?

Here’s the twist: Discord didn’t make this change on a whim. The shift to silhouette-based family emojis was actually recommended by the Unicode Consortium’s Emoji Subcommittee (ESC). According to Unicode Proposal L2/23-029, the goal was to create a more standardized, gender-inclusive approach to family emojis. The new designs are intended to be more generic, avoiding the need for skin tone customization and reducing the complexity of representing every possible family structure.

Discord, in case you didn’t know, uses a fork of Twemoji, the open-source emoji set originally developed by Twitter (now X). When Twitter’s emoji team was disbanded, Discord began maintaining its own Twemoji fork to keep up with Unicode’s latest standards. The recent update to Discord’s emojis aligns with Unicode’s 2023 recommendations, which include the new family emoji designs.

The ESC’s reasoning behind the redesign is rooted in inclusivity and simplicity. The old family emojis, while detailed, were seen as limiting. They often reinforced traditional family structures and didn’t account for the vast diversity of modern families. By moving to silhouette-based designs, the ESC aimed to create a more neutral, inclusive representation that doesn’t make assumptions about gender or family composition.

However, not everyone is thrilled. Some users feel that the new designs lack the specificity that made the old emojis meaningful, particularly for LGBTQ+ families. The old emojis provided clear visual references for families that don’t fit the traditional mold, and their removal has left some users feeling less represented.

If you’re upset about the change, don’t direct your frustration at Discord. The platform is simply following Unicode’s lead to ensure consistency across all devices and applications. The real decision-makers here are the Unicode Consortium and the Emoji Subcommittee. If you want to voice your opinion, you’ll need to take it up with them.