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 late Wednesday in a thread to “celebrate the first anniversary of the #MilkTeaAlliance.”
Tweets containing the hashtag now also contain an image of a white cup against a background with ‘3 different types of milk tea colors from regions where the Alliance first formed online, ”the platform wrote.
To mark the first anniversary of the # MelkTeaAlliansie, we designed an emoji with three different types of milk tea colors from regions where the Alliance first formed online. It appears automatically when you tweet one of the hashtags below pic.twitter.com/QiIBBbKfQc
– Public policy on Twitter (@policy) 8 April 2021
The movement first emerged last year following a Twitter war in which Chinese nationalists accused a young Thai actor and his girlfriend of supporting the ongoing democracy movement in Hong Kong, as well as Taiwanese independence. according to Reuters.
Twitter said it had taken up more than 11 million posts with #MilkTeaAlliance since April 2020, with talks reaching its peak when it was first launched and back in February after the military coup in Myanmar that the civilian government of drove out the country.
Twitter has in the past created emojis for other social movements that have gained significant traction online, including #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter, and wrote on Thursday that the platform ‘plays a unique role in enabling public conversation about important social movements taking place around’ to make. the world. ”
Of #Me too, #Black Lives Matter on # MelkTeaAlliansie, Twitter continues to play a unique role in enabling public discourse on important social movements around the world.
– Public policy on Twitter (@policy) 8 April 2021
“In times of civil unrest or violent repression, it is more important than ever for the public to have access to the #OpenInternet for real-time updates, credible information and essential services. #KeepitOn, ”Twitter added in a follow-up tweet.
Twitter further wrote: “We strongly believe that access to the free and #OpenInternet is an essential right and remain a firm defender and plead for free expression and condemn #InternetShutdowns.”
Twitter acknowledges that the #OpenInternet is increasingly threatened worldwide. We strongly believe that access to the free and #OpenInternet is an essential right and remains a strong defender and pleads for free expression and condemnation # Internet Shutdowns
– Public policy on Twitter (@policy) 8 April 2021
Twitter’s announcement was followed on Thursday by Myanmar’s military junta increasing its repression on the country’s internet and communication services.
Associated Press reports that the army has placed further limits fiber broadband service, which provides the last legal way citizens can communicate with each other.
Burmese authorities also seized satellite dishes on Thursday.
The Biden administration posted Thursday additional sanctions against Myanmar in response to the February coup, which the army sought to justify with allegations of corruption under the now deposed leader, Aung San Suu Kyi’s government.
More than 600 people have so far died as a result of police crackdown on the ongoing protests against the coup, and more than 2,800 people have been arrested during the protests.