10-Year-Old Boy Starts Petition For Apple To Change The Nerd Emoji Because It’s “Offensive” To People Who Wear Glasses

A 10-year-old boy has started a petition for Apple to change their “nerd” emoji on the basis of it being “offensive and insulting” to people who wear glasses.

Young Teddy Cottle, from Peppard, Oxfordshire called out the tech giant for allowing what he feels is misrepresentation of people like him.

“First of all, I don’t like the name because I find it rather rude,” he said speaking to the BBC. “A lot of people, including me, don’t like being called nerds”.

The motivated preteen took aim at the companies use of buck teeth that stand out on the design saying “absolutely horrible for people wearing glasses.” 

He continued: “We want to change this – Apple are making it absolutely horrible for people wearing glasses.”

“They’re making people think we’re nerds and it’s absolutely horrible. It’s making me feel sad and upset, and if I find it offensive there’ll be thousands of people around the world that find it offensive too.”

Not one to raise an issue without a solution, Cottle also provided an alternative design for Apple to consider, replacing the teeth bearing beam for a more subtle smile transforming it into the newly named “genius” emoji.

“It’s got thin lenses and thin frames… and then it’s got a little smiley face instead of the horrible rabbit teeth. I like wearing glasses because they make me see a lot better, and they look good and stylish.”

Apple hasn’t responded to the coverage of Teddy’s petition yet. So far, the petition has received 386 signatures.