Boy petitions Apple to change 'nerd face' emoji

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A UK schoolboy is asking Apple to fix and rename what he says is its offensive and insulting "nerd face" emoji, and has created a petition about it.

Petitioner Teddy with the
Petitioner Teddy with the "Apple" icon he so dislikes (source: BBC)



Perhaps a 10-year-old schoolboy couldn't be expected to know that it's actually the Unicode consortium that rules on emoji -- but you'd hope that the teachers encouraging his petition would have looked into it.

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'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 designed his own version, which replaces 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.

The majority have done the same as Apple with prominent teeth, but Facebook's is close to Teddy's own new design. That Facebook version with just a small grin is solely seen on Android and PCs, though, as a Mac or iPhone on Facebook uses Apple's version.

Facebook switched from teeth to a grin for the nerd emoji in 2018, but only for Android and PC. (Source: Emojipedia)
Facebook switched from teeth to a grin for the nerd emoji in 2018, but only for Android and PC. (Source: Emojipedia)



The boy's petition has been encouraged by a teacher, named only as Lisa, who told the BBC that she loves "his inquisitive mind, and the fact he fights for what he believes in."

"He's quite vocal about it but in quite a grown-up way," she continued, "and I think that should be supported, encouraged and commended as well."

BBC News says that Apple has not commented.

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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 29
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,735member

    A UK schoolboy is asking Apple to fix and rename what he says is its offensive and insulting "nerd face" emoji, and has created a petition about it.

    Perhaps a 10-year-old schoolboy couldn't be expected to know that it's actually the Unicode consortium that rules on emoji -- but you'd hope that the teachers encouraging his petition would have looked into it.

    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. 

    The majority have done the same as Apple with prominent teeth, but Facebook's is close to Teddy's own new design. That Facebook version with just a small grin is solely seen on Android and PCs, though, as a Mac or iPhone on Facebook uses Apple's version.

    Facebook switched from teeth to a grin for the nerd emoji in 2018 but only for Android and PC Source Emojipedia

    The article starts out implying Apple's hands are tied, it's not up to them how it's portrayed, but then later in the article notes that the specifics are up to the individual companies using it. They are not bound by the Unicode Consortium, as seen in Facebook's variation.

    Apple can change it, and I think the kid makes a fair point. 
    edited November 2023
    Graeme000jas99ronnJaiOh81Alex1Nmichelb76
     6Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 2 of 29
    eriamjheriamjh Posts: 1,823member
    I feel bad for anyone who is picked on for any reason, but every emoji matches someone and children are cruel.  

    Remember, the nerds win in the end.  And become rich, too.  
    ITGUYINSDjas99byronlmaltzbaconstangSleepySheepAlex1Nwatto_cobra
     8Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 3 of 29
    InspiredCodeinspiredcode Posts: 406member
    This emoji is normally used in a complementary way, but it probably should be updated. Maybe a pencil over the ear or holding a calculator.
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 4 of 29
    ITGUYINSDitguyinsd Posts: 568member
    Despite the emoji, the kid basically DOES look like a nerd. IMO, being called a nerd can be a good thing.  Aren't nerds considered smart?
    edited November 2023
    king editor the gratelibertymattersdewmebaconstangSleepySheepwatto_cobrajony0
     7Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 5 of 29
    personperson Posts: 34member
    Please don’t tell me this is real! What role models for teachers we have now days, teaching everyone to invent something to be offended about and to make a big stink about it. 
    They used to teach you how to be mentally resilient to help face lifes hardships. Now so many radical teachers teach the opposite. 
    libertymattersbyronlbaconstangSleepySheepJapheywatto_cobranetroxjony0
     8Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 6 of 29
    avidthinkeravidthinker Posts: 100member
    I was bespectacled from fourth grade until my late twenties.  One word, little chap: LASIK.  It will change your life, you're welcome.
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 7 of 29
    mikethemartianmikethemartian Posts: 1,624member
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tvy_Pbe5NA
    auxiowilliamlondon
     1Like 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 8 of 29
    ronnronn Posts: 704member
    Facebook got it right, Apple didn't. Change it. 
    williamlondon
     0Likes 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 9 of 29
    sbdudesbdude Posts: 307member
    Of all the things. Maybe try a different pair of glasses. Does the kid have beaver teeth, too?
    zeus423watto_cobra
     2Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 10 of 29
    auxioauxio Posts: 2,786member
    I was bespectacled from fourth grade until my late twenties.  One word, little chap: LASIK.  It will change your life, you're welcome.
    Nah, it's the Neanderthals who only know how to think with their eyeballs who need to change. Need to start a Clockwork Orange bootcamp where they're forced to watch Idiocracy until they understand what direction they're taking humanity.
    jas99avidthinkerjony0
     3Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 11 of 29
    Appleishappleish Posts: 758member


    Excuse me while I clean my glasses and dust my Star Wars toys...

    Anilu_777Spitbathwatto_cobranetrox
     4Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 12 of 29
    xyzzy-xxxxyzzy-xxx Posts: 214member
    Instead of complaining, he should claim the copyright to that emoji and get rich!
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 13 of 29
    mikethemartianmikethemartian Posts: 1,624member
    avidthinker said:
    I was bespectacled from fourth grade until my late twenties.  One word, little chap: LASIK.  It will change your life, you're welcome.
    I looked into that once but the doctor told me that even though I wouldn’t need glasses to see things far away that I wouldn’t be able to see things up close without reading glasses.
    williamlondonwatto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 14 of 29
    Honkershonkers Posts: 156member
    If the kid wins I’m sure he’ll never get bullied again.
    byronlbaconstangwilliamlondon
     3Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 15 of 29
    byronlbyronl Posts: 384member
    it's just a fun emoji.
    williamlondonwatto_cobra
     2Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 16 of 29
    Marvinmarvin Posts: 15,554moderator
    Real nerd:



    Apple's version nails it as usual:

    https://emojipedia.org/apple/ios-16.4/nerd-face



    Other versions are more kind like WhatsApp:

    https://emojipedia.org/whatsapp/2.23.2.72/nerd-face



    but the point of the emoji is to represent the message clearly. When you see the image, you're supposed to immediately think that's a nerd. That's the whole point of emoji existing, there's no point in sharing ambiguous emoji so people wonder what it means and people have to explain it.

    Smiling person with glasses - is it a happy father looking over his first born child? Is it someone shortsighted watching a football game where his team is about to score? This version cannot be used the way the nerd emoji is currently used.

    Apple's version - that's a nerd, looking like a nerd, acting like a nerd. Clear, obvious, nailed it.
    dewmeSleepySheepbyronlwilliamlondonwatto_cobranetroxjony0
     7Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 17 of 29
    dewmedewme Posts: 6,002member
    I heard that eggplants are asking for a re-do on their emoji too. Despite how they are depicted in emoji-space, they are actually a very friendly and convivial fruit. 
    Alex1Nbyronlwatto_cobra
     3Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 18 of 29
    danoxdanox Posts: 3,701member
    Nerds/Geeks rule the world.... Mr. Peabody Won.
    dewmewatto_cobra
     2Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 19 of 29
    neverindoubtneverindoubt Posts: 120member
    mikethemartian said:
    avidthinker said:
    I was bespectacled from fourth grade until my late twenties.  One word, little chap: LASIK.  It will change your life, you're welcome.
    I looked into that once but the doctor told me that even though I wouldn’t need glasses to see things far away that I wouldn’t be able to see things up close without reading glasses.
    You must be old (45? 50?). The downside of age is your lenses stiffen and the muscles that control them weaken and LASIK comes with those trade offs. Not an issue for the young. Get LASIK while you're still young kids!
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 20 of 29
    laytechlaytech Posts: 342member
    The emoji is subjective. Change it and someone else may not like it. Unfortunately, this is real life, not everything will please everyone and as much as the boy is free to complain, he also needs to understand that just because one person may not like it, you can't go changing something because of it.
    and, I can't believe I am wasting my breath commenting on this to be honest. 
    williamlondonwatto_cobra
     2Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
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