A 10-year-old boy says that Apple7s nerd emoji is an insult to all glasses wearers. This is why he started a petition to change the mobile icon.
There was a time when people who did not fit the typical stereotype had to struggle with societal prejudices. Especially glasses wearers who are fans of technology, video games, or science fiction were unfortunately mocked too often by society.
Fortunately, this has changed massively over the last few years. Nerds no longer fulfill clichés but appear cool in their way. Glasses are seen more as a fashion accessory rather than a negative trait. This could also be the reason why a signed pair of glasses from a streamer was sold for a high sum on eBay.
To ensure this remains the case, a 10-year-old student has decided to start a petition against the glasses-wearing nerd emoji. He finds it insulting and therefore calls on Apple to change the symbol. Our colleagues from 3DJuegos.com reported on this as well.
10-Year-Old Wants Apple to Replace the Nerd Emoji
What did the student do? The 10-year-old boy from England has launched a petition against Apple7s nerd emoji via petitiononline.uk. He is supported by his French teacher, who has put the petition online on his behalf.
Since he wears glasses himself, he feels personally affected. He wants to persuade Apple to change the current appearance of the emoji. His parents were not surprised by his action, as he has 2always had a clear opinion on everything,2 according to them.
Why should Apple change the nerd emoji? The student believes that the nerd emoji is insulting to all glasses wearers in the world due to its appearance. The protruding teeth particularly bother him. The boy even sees a comparison to rabbits or rats.
He worries about people who are wearing glasses for the first time in their lives. The Apple symbol could discourage them. The danger is too great that glasses are perceived as a negative trait because of the nerd emoji.
How likely are his chances of success? At the moment, his petition has already collected over 2,400 signatures. However, it is unclear whether Apple will take notice of his action and respond to his request. For comparison, a petition from fans of the Witcher series has already garnered over 330,000 supporters.
It definitely supports the idea that Apple has changed an emoji in the past. This was the revolver symbol. The US company saw the need for action and replaced it with the symbol of a water gun.
As a counter-design, the 10-year-old boy has created his own symbol. He calls it the Genius Emoji. The smiley on it also wears glasses. However, instead of the protruding teeth, his version shows a small smile.
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