Twitter has launched a new emoji in honor of the pro-democracy online movement Milk Tea Alliance, which has gained popularity among protesters in places like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and Myanmar.
Twitter’s public policy account announced the emoji Wednesday afternoon in a thread to “celebrate the first anniversary of the #MilkTeaAlliance.”
Tweets that include the tag will now also include the image of a white cup on a background that includes “3 different types of milk tea colors from regions where the Alliance was first formed online, ”the platform wrote.
To celebrate the first anniversary of the #MilkTeaAlliance, we designed an emoji with three different types of milk tea colors from the regions where the Alliance was formed online. It appears automatically when you tweet to any of the following hashtags pic.twitter.com/QiIBBbKfQc
– Twitter public policies (@Policy) April 8, 2021
The movement emerged last year after a war on Twitter in which Chinese nationalists accused a young Thai actor and his girlfriend of supporting the ongoing democratic movement in Hong Kong, as well as Taiwanese independence, according to Reuters.
Twitter said it has recorded more than 11 million posts with #MilkTeaAlliance since April 2020, with conversations peaking when it was first launched and again in February after the military coup in Myanmar which expelled the civilian government from the country.
Twitter has created emojis in the past for other social movements that have gained strength online, including #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter, writing Thursday that the platform “continues to play a unique role in enabling public conversation around movements important social events that are happening around the world. ”
From #Me too, #VidaNegraMateria a #MilkTeaAlliance, Twitter continues to play a unique role in enabling public conversation around major social movements that are happening around the world.
– Twitter public policies (@Policy) April 8, 2021
“In times of civil unrest or violent repression, it is more important than ever for the public to have access to #OpenInternet for real-time updates, credible information and essential services. #KeepitOn, ”Twitter added in a follow-up tweet.
Twitter continued: “We firmly believe that having access to free and #OpenInternet is an essential right and to remain a strong advocate and advocate of free speech and we condemn #InternetShutdowns.”
Twitter recognizes that the #OpenInternet it is increasingly threatened around the world. We firmly believe that having access to free and #OpenInternet it is an essential right and remains a staunch advocate and advocate of free speech and condemnation #InternetShutdowns
– Twitter public policies (@Policy) April 8, 2021
The Twitter announcement was followed on Thursday by the Myanmar military junta increasing their repression to the country’s internet and communications services.
The Associated Press reported that the military set additional limits fiber broadband service, which provided the ultimate legal way to communicate between citizens.
Burmese authorities were also seen on Thursday confiscating satellite dishes.
The Biden administration placed on Thursday additional sanctions in Myanmar in response to the February coup, which the army has tried to justify with corruption claims among the government of leader Aung San Suu Kyi, which has already been ousted.
So far, more than 600 people have been killed as a result of ongoing police crackdowns on ongoing protests against the coup and more than 2,800 people have been arrested during the demonstrations.