A bespectacled United Kingdom schoolboy has petitioned Apple to modify and rename what he says is the offensive and insulting “nerd face” emoji.
According to BBC News, 10-year-old Teddy from Peppard in the UK’s Oxfordshire, says that Apple’s nerd icon with prominent front teeth gives a bad impression of glasses wearers.
“We want to change this — Apple are making it absolutely horrible for people wearing glasses,” he said. “They’re making people think we’re nerds and it’s absolutely horrible.”
It should be noted that it’s actually the Unicode consortium that rules on emoji, but it is then up to individual companies precisely how they illustrate it. Examples of at least most emoji design variations are shown on the Emojipedia.
“It’s making me feel sad and upset,” he continued, “and if I find it offensive there’ll be thousands of people around the world that find it offensive too.”
Teddy has his own emoji design to submit to replace the current emoji in question, replacing the teeth with a little closed-mouth grin. “It’s got thin lenses and thin frames… and then it’s got a little smiley face instead of the horrible rabbit teeth,” he said.
While it’s the Unicode consortium that decides whether a given emoji will be officially adopted, it is then up to companies precisely how they illustrate it. Examples of at least most emoji design variations, including the one literally called “Nerd Face,” are shown on the Emojipedia.
While most firms have used “Nerd Face” designs similar to Apple’s design, including the prominent teeth. However, Facebook’s design closely resembles Teddy’s design. The Facebook version can be seen on PCs and Android devices, while the emoji seen on Macs and iPhones uses Apple’s version.
He shared his concerns with one of his teachers, Lisa, who helped him kickstart the petition asking Apple to change its ways, first around the school, and then online.
“I love his inquisitive mind and the fact he fights for what he believes in,” she said.
“He’s quite vocal about it but in quite a grown-up way, and I think that should be supported, encouraged and commended as well.”
Teddy said if Apple took his ideas on board it would “feel amazing and I’d be so excited”.
BBC News says that Apple has not commented.
(Image: BBC News)