diff --git a/includes/class-dependencies.php b/includes/class-dependencies.php
index 208a43c3..50c41c15 100644
--- a/includes/class-dependencies.php
+++ b/includes/class-dependencies.php
@@ -31,23 +31,23 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\Dependencies' ) ) {
 		 */
 		public $ext_required_version = array(
 			'bbpress'              => '2.0.7',
-			'followers'            => '2.1.6',
+			'followers'            => '2.3.5',
 			'forumwp'              => '2.1.5',
-			'friends'              => '2.1.4',
+			'friends'              => '2.3.4',
 			'groups'               => '2.4.2',
 			'jobboardwp'           => '1.0.7',
 			'mailchimp'            => '2.6.2',
 			'messaging'            => '2.2.5',
 			'mycred'               => '2.2.4',
 			'notices'              => '2.0.5',
-			'notifications'        => '2.1.3',
+			'notifications'        => '2.3.8',
 			'online'               => '2.1.1',
 			'private-content'      => '2.0.5',
 			'profile-completeness' => '2.2.7',
 			'profile-tabs'         => '1.0.0',
 			'recaptcha'            => '2.3.4',
 			'reviews'              => '2.1.5',
-			'social-activity'      => '2.2.0',
+			'social-activity'      => '2.4.0',
 			'social-login'         => '2.2.0',
 			'stripe'               => '1.0.0',
 			'zapier'               => '1.0.0',
diff --git a/includes/core/class-shortcodes.php b/includes/core/class-shortcodes.php
index c3104b1a..4b73767d 100644
--- a/includes/core/class-shortcodes.php
+++ b/includes/core/class-shortcodes.php
@@ -217,16 +217,18 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\core\Shortcodes' ) ) {
 			return $args;
 		}
 
-
 		/**
 		 * Emoji support
 		 *
-		 * @param $content
+		 * @param string $content
+		 * @param bool   $stripslashes
 		 *
 		 * @return mixed|string
 		 */
-		function emotize( $content ) {
-			$content = stripslashes( $content );
+		public function emotize( $content, $stripslashes = true ) {
+			if ( $stripslashes ) {
+				$content = stripslashes( $content );
+			}
 			foreach ( $this->emoji as $code => $val ) {
 				$regex   = str_replace( array( '(', ')' ), array( '\\' . '(', '\\' . ')' ), $code );
 				$content = preg_replace(
@@ -238,7 +240,6 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\core\Shortcodes' ) ) {
 			return $content;
 		}
 
-
 		/**
 		 * Remove wpautop filter for post content if it's UM core page
 		 */