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The Surprising History of Emoji: From 1999 to Now

The Surprising History of Emoji: From 1999 to Now

Emoji started as 176 tiny pixel icons on a Japanese pager network. Here's how they went from a niche feature to a global language — and who decides what exists.

Jun 30, 2026·Emoji Meaning·2 min read

Emoji Meaning

A complete field guide to what every emoji really means — Gen-Z slang, platform context, and cultural intelligence.

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