Apple to make Emoji characters more ethnically diverse

CUPERTINO, Calif. (KGO) -- It looks like Apple is listening to singer Miley Cyrus.

The pop star and actor Tahj Mowry both complained that Apple's Emoji character apps on its devices lack racial diversity.

In December 2012, Cyrus tweeted, "RT if you think there needs to be an #emojiethnicityupdate."

Cyrus demanded that Apple include Emojis that represent black people to reflect a more equal society.

And ahead of the iOS7 release, a petitioncalled on Apple to be more inclusive of its Emojis. The description reads, "But of the more than 800 Emojis, the only two resembling people of color are a guy who looks vaguely Asian and another in a turban. There's a white boy, girl, man, woman, elderly man, elderly woman, blonde boy, blonde girl and, we're pretty sure, Princess Peach. But when it comes to faces outside of yellow smileys, there's a staggering lack of minority representation"

The Cupertino-based company responded and says it is working to update its emoticons with a new set of faces.