Opera browser to enable emoji-based web addresses

The integration allows Opera users to surf the web by entering a string of emojis into the URL bar instead of letters and words. The “emojification” of Opera, as the company calls it, is a “new, easier and more fun” way to find and be directed to Yat pages, according to Jorgen Arnesen, executive vice president of mobile at Opera.

“The partnership marks a major paradigm shift in the way the internet works. Through the integration with Yat, Opera users are able to ditch .com or even words in their links and use emojis to be directed to websites.”

Emojis embedded on web pages will link to the corresponding “y.at/” page automatically. Famous artists and celebrities were among the first to invest in and use their Yat emoji web addresses, simply called Yats. For example, rapper Lil Wayne’s (y.at/alien-musical note) Yat page directs users to his record label’s site and DJ Steve Aoki’s (y.at/birthday cake-musical note) page takes users to his website.  

To mark the integration’s launch, Yat and Opera are hosting a scavenger hunt for participants to compete for seven commissioned Fvck Crystals NFTs from NFT artist Fvckrender.