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He’s only ten years old, but he knows exactly what he wants – or what he doesn’t want. A thorn in the side of Englishman Teddy Cottle is Apple’s nerd emoji.
According to the boy from the British county of Oxfordshire, the emoji with protruding front teeth and thick-rimmed black glasses is “scandalous and offensive”.
He therefore calls on the tech giant to change the design and name. This was reported by the local newspaper ‘Henley Standard’.
“It looks like a rat”
Teddy, who wears glasses himself, is particularly bothered by the image suggested of people who wear glasses. “I guess it means that anyone who wears glasses is a nerd. But you can’t help having to wear them. And you want to be just like everyone else,” the fifth-grader told the newspaper.
He also finds the name rather rude. “Many people, including me, don’t like being called nerds. And then it looks a bit stupid because of the teeth that stick out sharply. It looks like a rat.”
His suggestion to Apple: instead of Nerd, the emoji should be renamed Genie. As for appearance, protruding teeth should be removed and a smile should be shown instead.
Many have already signed the petition
To strengthen his demands, the student has now started a petition. In it, he and his French teacher Lisa Baillie, who helped him, write: “We think people who wear glasses are cool. And we’re concerned that people who wear glasses for the first time may think they look like rabbits or rats.”
Teddy has already received a lot of support for his project, the report says. ‘Many people have signed. When we handed them out, all the teachers said, ‘Well done, keep up the good work’.”
It remains to be seen whether Apple will implement its suggestion. One thing is clear: Teddy would definitely jump for air. A request from “Henley Standard” to Apple has so far gone unanswered. (dzc)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
