If you own an iPhone and you have text message, which I am 99% sure you have, then you’re likely aware of how you can tell the difference between someone who is texting you from an iPhone, or someone who’s texting you from an Android, or other smartphone. When you get a text message from an iPhone and you’re using iMessage, you’ll see the text bubble pop up in blue. If they’re using an Android phone, that text bubble pops up in green. Google is claiming that that distinction leads to, “Peer pressure and bullying” that has ultimately given Apple’s iMessage a clear edge when it comes to what smartphone folks are going to use and what text messaging platform they use. I write about this in a story that you can read on tech.USAtoday.com.

Heroshi Lockheimer, who is the senior Vice President of Google products, which includes Android, wrote on Twitter that Apple’s efforts to lock in users to its iMessage platform is, “A documented strategy.” This was in response to a report that appeared in the Wall Street Journal. And it talked about how teens were reluctant to switch over from iPhone to Android, or they were having regrets about making that switch because of that green text bubble signaling they use an Android device. Very fascinating because it talked about examples of some users on Android were missing out on group chats because of iMessage, or they were just left out because a lot of iPhone users just don’t like looking at the green text bubble. Here is the quote from Lockheimer, this is what he said on Twitter. “Using peer pressure and bullying as a way to sell products is disingenuous for a company that has humanity and equity as a core part of its marketing.”