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Tinder petitions for an interracial couple emoji

Love is universal and technology is for everyone

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When Unicode released 161 new emoji early this year, we all thought of it as a step towards embracing diversity. We have people of color, redheads, and same-sex couples added to the official emoji catalog. But we’ve been missing one — interracial couples.

Tinder launched a campaign called #RepresentLove last February 27, in collaboration with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and Emojination founder Jennifer 8. Lee, with the goal of petitioning Unicode to introduce an interracial couple emoji.

Image by Tinder

In a recent study, Tinder and other popular dating apps may be responsible for an increase in interracial marriages. The research showed that online dating and interracial relationships go hand in hand. It may be true since dating apps are now a platform for us to meet anyone, anywhere in the world. In one swipe, we can connect with someone even from a completely different background.

Why is Tinder petitioning?

Tinder stated that the study inspired them to be at the forefront of creating change. They surveyed their users to find out how they think, feel, and connect.

The results were announced alongside the campaign, with vague information on numbers such as “72 percent believe Tinder is the most racially diverse dating app,” “77 percent of Tinder users say they’re more open-minded about who they date,” and “66 percent of global respondents who dated someone of a different race said it enabled them to experience places they weren’t previously aware of.”

I’m cynical when it comes to numbers, but I appreciate the effort to promote diversity. Our times are changing, and we’re becoming more accepting with the differences in racial and ethnic backgrounds. The tech world might still have a long way to overcome these boundaries but this campaign is a big leap into making technology for everyone.

The campaign website acknowledged the long process which starts from Unicode Consortium (the governing body of all things emoji) accepting the petition. Apple, Google, Microsoft, and other platforms will modify their emoji once the proposal has been approved.

If you believe in Tinder’s outcry and that love is universal, let’s stand together with Tinder and #RepresentLove. The petition already garnered 10,000 signatures as of writing.

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Google, on Android adopting Liquid Glass: “Not happening!”

Just in case you were wondering.

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May 7, 2026

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Google is slightly moving away from Material Design. Last week, a set of icon changes saw Android adding splashes of gradients to its formerly flat app icons. To poke fun at Android’s move away from flat designs, a user on X created a mockup of Android running Apple’s Liquid Design. Google, however, had a response ready in the chamber.

On X, @Micetor made a mockup of Android, specifically on the upcoming Pixel 11, using Apple’s latest Liquid Design aesthetics. It looked much like what an iPhone does except with Google’s icons and fonts.

Clearly, Google does not need to reply to any unsubstantiated mockups about its ecosystem. But they still did.

Sameer Samat, Google’s head for the Android ecosystem, personally replied to the mockup with a simple rebuttal: “Not happening!”

Despite using the design language for over a decade, Google does not want to drop Material Design altogether. Though the new gradients have revitalized the design language somewhat, the essence of flat design is still there.

Apple, on the other hand, wants a return to 3D. Liquid Design mimics the transparent aesthetics of Windows Vista. Though a bunch of users have found the design polarizing, other brands have started copying the design for themselves, incorporating elements on Liquid Design on their interfaces.

Whatever Google is doing, it’s coming in due time. The company is hosting its annual Google I/O on May 12 to showcase new developments coming to the Android ecosystem, including its design.

SEE ALSO: More iPhone switchers this year than Android switchers, report says

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iOS 26.5 will support end-to-end encryption RCS messaging

The final update should come out within the month.

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May 5, 2026

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Back in 2023, Apple finally adopted the RCS messaging standard, ensuring that iOS and Android users could communicate more seamlessly despite being on different platforms. This year, the platform is adding an improvement to the feature: end-to-end encryption.

Starting with the upcoming launch of iOS 26.5, Apple will now support end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging between iOS and Android users (via 9to5Mac). Besides the seamless communication, users on both platforms can start enjoying secure messaging with one another.

Apple has been testing the feature since February. Now, the company is confident enough to release the encryption technology in a new build for iOS 26.5 meant for developers. At this point, it’s just waiting for an actual release.

Why is this a big deal? Encryption adds an extra layer of security for your messages. Plus, end-to-end encryption means that messages is encrypted and decrypted only by the sender and the receiver. Third parties, which includes Apple, cannot intercept and access your information.

With the feature on, both messaging platforms on Android and iOS will show a lock icon to signify that, yes, your messages are encrypted.

Though the current build isn’t meant for end users just yet, it’s expected that iOS 26.5 will launch within the month, if not by next week.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 17e review

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YouTube makes picture-in-picture mode free for everyone globally

The update is rolling out globally now.

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April 30, 2026

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Picture-in-picture (or PiP) mode is a godsend for multitaskers. The feature lets users watch videos in a tiny floating window while doing other tasks. However, the feature isn’t readily available for all users. Or wasn’t, at least. YouTube is now rolling out PiP mode for free globally.

Previously, PiP mode was exclusive to YouTube users who pay for Premium or Premium Lite. It was also exclusive to the United States.

Now, YouTube is making the feature completely free for users all over the globe. It will be available for both iOS and Android versions of the app.

There’s still a catch, though. The free version is available only for “longform, non-music content.” The same goes for Premium Lite subscribers. Music is still an exclusive feature for those who pay for the regular version of Premium. Basically, there is no change for paying users or users in the United States.

Using PiP mode is simple. All you need to do is load up a video you want to watch in the background. Then, just exit the YouTube app and go about your other tasks. The video will be inside a floating, resizable window while you look at other things.

There’s no timeline on when the update will reach your device. However, YouTube has promised that it will roll out globally within the coming months.

SEE ALSO: YouTube remains top PH video platform; advertisers urged to continue investing

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