What you should know
- Teddy, a 10-year-old boy from the U.K., has started a petition calling for Apple to redesign the “nerd face” emoji, arguing that its buck teeth stereotype people who wear glasses.
- The boy has created his own design for a replacement emoji, which he calls the “genius emoji.” This design features thin lenses and frames, and a smiley face instead of buck teeth.
- The petition was inspired by one of Teddy’s teachers and has so far only been circulated within his school and local town. The plan is to launch it online and email it to Apple.
- Apple has not yet responded to the petition or the coverage it has received. Teddy says he will feel “amazing” and “excited” if Apple takes his advice and redesigns the emoji.
Full Story
Meet Teddy. He’s a 10-year-old Apple enthusiast from the U.K. who’s got a bone to pick with the tech giant. His gripe? The “nerd face” emoji.
Teddy’s not a fan of the emoji’s design. He’s particularly irked by the buck teeth that stand out. According to him, it’s a slap in the face for people who wear glasses. He’s even started a petition to get Apple to change the design.
Teddy’s got a way with words. Despite his age, he speaks with an eloquence that belies his years. “They’re making people think we’re nerds and it’s absolutely horrible,” he laments. He’s upset, and he’s sure he’s not alone. “If I find it offensive, there’ll be thousands of people around the world that find it offensive too.”
This young activist didn’t just stop at a petition. He spoke with the BBC (via 9to5Mac) and unveiled his own design for a replacement emoji. He calls it the “genius emoji.”
Teddy’s redesigned emoji is a far cry from the original. “It’s got thin lenses and thin frames… and then it’s got a little smiley face instead of the horrible rabbit teeth,” he explains. Teddy himself wears glasses. And he loves them. “I like wearing glasses because they make me see a lot better, and they look good and stylish,” he says.
Here’s a fun fact. Teddy’s petition was inspired by one of his teachers, Lisa. She noticed his passion and encouraged him to take action. “He’s quite vocal about it but in quite a grown-up way,” Lisa said, “and I think that should be supported, encouraged, and commended as well.”
So far, Teddy’s petition is making the rounds in his school and his town. But he’s got bigger plans. He wants to take it online and email it to Apple. As of now, Apple’s been pretty mum about the whole thing.
Teddy’s hopeful though. If Apple does change the “nerd face” emoji, he says he’d “feel amazing” and “so excited.” He first noticed the emoji when he was texting his cousin. And since then, he’s been on a mission to change it.
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