Facebook Messenger adds 1500 new emoji

Facebook has launched 1,500 new emoji for its Messenger app in a bid to increase diversity.

The new emoji feature a better and wider representation of women, and more skin tones. Up to now, Facebook Messenger utilised the traditional yellow colour for emoji, but this update adds the different skin tones approved by the Unicode Consortium.

You can set a preference for a skin tone from five options aside from the yellow shade. Once selected, the skin tone will be the default for that emoji from then on. However, you can change your preference at any time from the Settings menu.

A host of female emoji have been added too, including a police officer, runner, swimmer, surfer, and many more.

Another welcome addition is the red head. That petition finally paid off!

Facebook stated that more emoji will be rolled out in the future.