A 10-year-old has filed a petition against the Nerd emoji on Apple. What is the stereotype behind it?
The stereotype behind the 'nerd' emoji seems apparent – it centers on the glasses. However, wearing glasses doesn't inherently signify being a nerd.
Teddy Cottle, a 10-year-old boy from England, has launched a petition urging Apple to change its 'nerd' emoji, depicting a smiling face with glasses and two front teeth sticking out. In his petition, he highlighted that this emoji can be offensive to people who wear glasses.
What is the stereotype behind this emoji? Let's delve into it.
Details
On November 27, Teddy Cottle, a 10-year-old boy from England posted a petition on PetitionOnline.uk titled 'No Nerd Emoji,' swiftly becoming the top petition on the site.
Teddy addressed Apple, expressing his discomfort with the 'nerd' emoji and its potential offense to people who wear glasses.
He also said-
As part of his petition, Teddy proposed an alternative emoji that he drew himself and suggested renaming it the 'genius' emoji.
The 'nerd' emoji stereotype
The stereotype behind the 'nerd' emoji seems apparent – it centers on the glasses. However, wearing glasses doesn't inherently signify being a nerd.
- This emoji perpetuates the stereotype that nerds have a specific appearance, often characterised by glasses and prominent front teeth. Media, including movies, music videos, and viral social media content, consistently associate nerds with glasses.
- Unfortunately, this portrayal leads to an unconscious association between glasses and nerdy traits.
- Even on social media, transformation videos often begin with glasses to depict the 'nerd' look and then transition to a 'cooler' appearance without glasses.
Teddy's petition aims to challenge these outdated stereotypes, advocating for a change in societal perceptions.