Kanji for common use count increasing to meet digital age (examiner.com)

In short, Japan is expanding the official list of commonly used Kanji because technology has changed the way that people use them. I originally picked this up here:

http://www.tofugu.com/2010/06/09/the-kanjipocolypse-is-here-196-additional-kanji-to-be-added-to-the-joyo-kanji-list