14 DAY TRIAL // Yesterday, while I was chatting on Yahoo Messenger, an interesting tip displayed in a message window caught my attention. "Be a better emoticon fan! Help choose the next Emoticon. Vote or enter your photo in our Emoticontest," the tip said. Emoticontest is the special program rolled out by Yahoo yesterday when the Sunnyvale company celebrated the 25th anniversary of the emoticons. Basically, this interesting program requires you to upload a photo with face expression and let the other users choose if it is worth to be converted into a lucky emoticon and included in the famous Yahoo Messenger.
Or maybe you're shy and you want to view other photos. It's alright, just go over to the official page of the contest and vote your favorite pictures. "Help us create the next new Emoticons. Enter a photo with your Emoticon-worthy expression (new ideas only -- not Emoticons we already have). Then let the world vote on which 10 Yahoo! should turn into real Emoticons!" Yahoo said on the official page.
However, you should keep in mind that there are several guidelines of the contest that force you to upload only original photos. You know it, a fake picture of yours can cause trouble not only for the company but also for you because you can be accused of infringing the privacy and for uploading others' pictures.
"I am the person appearing in the entry materials, I have obtained permission to submit the photo or video recording from anyone and any locations pictured in the entry materials, and I can make those permission available upon request," it is mentioned in the official rules of the contest.
This is not the first time when Yahoo requires users' help to choose the upcoming emoticons to be included in the instant messaging client. Almost one year ago, the Sunnyvale company demanded the users to choose a new set of emoticons designed for the new version of Yahoo Messenger.