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The emoji created to help victims of domestic abuse

Icons in the new package by children's charity BRIS include alcoholic parents and children with bruises and cuts.

Siobhan Fenton
Thursday 28 May 2015 13:24 BST
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A children’s charity have created emoji of people suffering from domestic violence in the hope that it will help young children otherwise unable to verbalise abuse to seek help.

Swedish charity BRIS (Children’s Rights in Society) have developed the special package of emoji for smartphone users which is available to download from the App store.

The app’s description explains: “Every day we have contact with a great number of kids through phone, chat and mail conversation. Many of the problems that children face today are stigmatised and often have no one to talk to but us.”

Emojis included in the pack include families in which an alcoholic parent holds beer or wine, whilst others depict children with bruises and cuts to their faces.

Traditionally colourful and cheerful icons, emoji are rapidly spreading as a means of communication. A recent survey by TalkTalk Mobile found that 72 per cent of 18 to 25 year olds find it easier to put their feelings across through emoji than through words.

Last week an academic from Bangor University revealed that emoji is now the fastest growing language in the UK.

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