Twitter has launched a new emoji in honor of the online pro-democracy movement Milk Tea Alliance, which has become popular among protesters in places like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and Myanmar.
The Twitter Public Policy account announced the emoji Wednesday late in a thread to “celebrate the first anniversary of the #MilkTeaAlliance”.
Tweets with the hashtag will now also include an image of a white cup against a background with “3 different types of milk tea colors from regions where the Alliance was first established online, ”the platform wrote.
To the first anniversary of the #MilkTeaAlliancewe designed an emoji with 3 different types of milk tea colors from regions where the Alliance first emerged online. It will automatically appear when you tweet one of the hashtags below pic.twitter.com/QiIBBbKfQc
– Twitter Public Policy (@Policy) April 8, 2021
The movement emerged last year after a Twitter war in which Chinese nationalists accused a young Thai actor and his girlfriend of supporting Hong Kong’s ongoing democracy movement, as well as Taiwanese independence. according to Reuters
Twitter said it has logged more than 11 million posts with #MilkTeaAlliance since April 2020, with talks reaching peaks when it was first launched and again in February following the military-led coup in Myanmar that ousted the country’s civilian government. .
Twitter has in the past created emojis for other social movements that have received a lot of attention online, including #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter, writing on Thursday that the platform “continues to play a unique role in enabling the public conversation around major social movements that take place around the world. ”
From #Me too #BlackLivesMatter to #MilkTeaAlliance, Twitter continues to play a unique role in enabling the public conversation around major social movements happening around the world.
– Twitter Public Policy (@Policy) April 8, 2021
“In times of civil unrest or violence, it is more important than ever that the public has access to #OpenInternet for real-time updates, credible information and essential services. #KeepitOn, ”added Twitter in a follow-up tweet.
Twitter went on to write, “We believe that having access to free and #OpenInternet is an essential right and will continue to be a staunch defender and advocate of free speech and condemning #InternetShutdowns.”
Twitter recognizes that the #OpenInternet is increasingly threatened worldwide. We strongly believe that have access to the free and #OpenInternet is an essential right and remains a staunch defender and advocate of free speech and condemnation #InternetShutdowns
– Twitter Public Policy (@Policy) April 8, 2021
Twitter’s announcement was followed by Myanmar’s military junta on Thursday are ramping up his crackdown on the country’s internet and communications services.
The Associated Press reported that the military was imposing further restrictions fiber optic broadband service, the last legal way for citizens to communicate with each other.
Burmese authorities were also seen seizing satellite dishes on Thursday.
Biden’s records were posted on Thursday additional sanctions against Myanmar in response to the February coup, which the military has tried to justify with claims of corruption under the now deposed government of leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
More than 600 people have been killed so far as a result of the police crackdown on the ongoing anti-coup protests, and more than 2,800 people have been arrested during the demonstrations.