Microsoft Is The First Company To OK The Middle-Finger Emoji

It's an exciting day for freedom-of-emoji advocates everywhere: Business Insider reports that Microsoft users will soon have access to the middle-finger emoji, and will be available in six different skin tones. Even zealous emoji-users may not have known that the middle-finger emoji—officially titled "reversed hand with middle finger extended"—was an option. Apparently companies are allowed to decide which emoji's they support on an individual basis, and so far, iPhone, Twitter, and Android have not permitted the use of "reversed hand with middle finger extended"—effectively flipping the bird to everyone's ability to (digitally) flip the bird.

Microsoft also plans to release three other new emoji's: "Face With OK Gesture With Black Skin Tone," "Flushed Face," and "Information Desk Person With Cream White Skin Tone." In addition, there will be changes to the "Relieved Face," the "Confounded Face," the "Tired Face," and more. Head over to Emojipedia to preview all your new options.

Microsoft will let you use the middle-finger emoji even though Apple and Google won't http://t.co/Qn8MUQ12wj pic.twitter.com/arjQPaS2n1

— Business Insider (@businessinsider) May 4, 2015

Lead Image: Gabriel Bouys, AFP / Getty Images