A petition has been launched in an attempt to get Apple to change the "nerd" emoji, which some have deemed "offensive and insulting".
Modern-day texting is a far cry from what communication used to be. Gone are the days of hand-writing letters, as we now live in a world where everyone is digitally accessible in an instant.
One way that communication has evolved since writing letters is the introduction of emojis, which can be used to really hammer home how you're feeling when writing a message.
What started off as a collection of punctuation marks, numbers, and letters used to depict a face now comes as a full-color library of tiny images to express a thought or emotion. And they've become so ingrained into how we communicate, that even now as I type this I'm struggling to resist the urge to throw in a little smiley face.
But it would appear that some are loved more than others, as the emoji that is often used to depict a "nerd", has come under fire.
A 10-year-old boy called Teddy from Oxfordshire in the UK has launched a petition urging tech giant Apple to reconsider its design of the emoji.
Teddy, a proud glasses wearer, believes that the current emoji, characterized by prominent front teeth, produces a negative stereotype of those who wear glasses.
In an interview with BBC News, he expressed his discontent, stating: "We want to change this - Apple is making it absolutely horrible for people wearing glasses."
The young advocate has taken matters into his own hands by redesigning the emoji himself. His version features a subtle smile, replacing the perceived "horrible rabbit teeth" that he dislikes.
"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," Teddy said.
Teddy has coined his revamped emoji as the "genius emoji" and hopes that Apple will consider adopting his design. Describing the changes, he explained: "It's got thin lenses and thin frames... and then it's got a little smiley face instead of the horrible rabbit teeth."
Reflecting on the inspiration behind his initiative, Teddy revealed that he noticed the offending emoji while texting his cousin. He shared his concerns with his teacher, Lisa, who assisted him in launching the petition within the school community and later online.
Lisa commended Teddy's initiative, stating: "I love 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, and I think that should be supported, encouraged and commended as well."
Teddy expressed his excitement at the prospect of Apple considering his ideas, stating: "It would feel amazing, and I'd be so excited."
