My first phone was a Samsung Galaxy S3, which was easily identified as an Android considering the camera was in the middle of the phone.
Being an Android owner for more than six years, I’ve learned to go through bullying from iPhone users and learn to accept my Android, though I’d rather not talk about what kind of phone I have.
Having a Samsung Galaxy S21 has made it easier for me to hide the fact I have an Android since the cameras at the back look similar to an iPhone from afar, making me less of a target for anti-Android comments.
An article from the Wall Street Journal in January 2022, discusses Android users being left out for being a green bubble.
“Apple’s iMessage plays a significant role in the lives of young smartphone users and their parents, according to data and interviews with a dozen of these people,” Tim Haggins from Wall Street Journal wrote. “Teens and college students said they dread the ostracism that comes with a green text. The social pressure is palpable, with some reporting being ostracized or singled out after switching away from iPhones.”
The green bubble is for SMS messages, basically how Apple tells an iPhone user they are texting a non-iPhone user.
To help with the divide between blue and green bubbles, in August of 2022, Android launched the hashtag #GetTheMessage to bring attention to Apple about getting rid of the green bubble.
Android users then took to Twitter using the hashtag and tagging Apple with the same message: ‘stop breaking my texting experience,’ while linking the campaign.
Besides the green bubble, Android users hoped Apple would switch to the modern industry standard, RCS, which helps both parties communicate better according to the Android campaign.
Regarding the campaign, Apple didn’t listen to Android users.
Though in October 2021, Apple has made FaceTime more accessible to Android users by having a link sent from the iPhone user.
“With so many people around you having top of the line iPhones and you were to have any other brand of smartphone and then all of those many people talk about their phones, you would feel like the wallflower of the party,” Justin Ver Panopio said, mentioning Android users may have a fear of missing out and iPhone fuels this.
My freshman year of high school was my prime year for wanting an iPhone since the comments from my peers finally caught up to me. Relationships and potential bonds all were severed just because of the phone I had.
Though for some I became an exception, AKA the only Android friend they would have.
During a recent experience, someone commented on the fact I have an Android around their iPhone friends, later on that evening I found out they had an Android. Could it be that they were ashamed of their phone so they made a comment about mine? I’ll never know.
Missing out on certain apps, liking a message and confetti on a screen, the pressure of having an iPhone resurfaces every now and then.
“Apple is just too big a name to look away from,” Panopio said.