It’s been a minute. You’ve left us on read.

We’re still here and so are millions of ‘typos’.

Our mission still stands: to create a digital landscape that is truly inclusive and reflects the society it serves. In other words, let’s spell-check spell-check. Correct autocorrect.

Let us spell it out for you.

A name is so much more than letters. It’s part of our identity. What might seem like a simple red squiggle to you is a sign of exclusion for another.

The line between feeling seen and feeling invisible can be as simple as that thin red one.

A year on from our launch, the issue remains widespread. Some 42% of adults – a staggering 23 million people – have experienced their names being autocorrected or flagged as incorrect. These ‘typos’ highlight how deeply ingrained the problem still is.

And guess what? Typos are disproportionately African and Asian in origin. Some are Eastern European. Many are Scottish, Welsh or Irish. This doesn’t reflect a diverse, inclusive society.

All the Fiadhs, Ottilies, Zaviyars, Nikodems, Ayzals, Rians, and Finnleys know what we’re talking about. They’re all othered by the devices you created.

Don’t believe us? Take it from them. We asked the UK public what they think about autocorrect and more than half (60%) of the typo community said they feel negatively about autocorrect changing their name. One in ten go so far as to say that the technology is racist.

It’s clear that our technology needs to catch up with the society it serves.

So, Big Tech, we need your help – starting with updating your name dictionaries.

Give us a call, we’re waiting.

Yours,

I am not a typo