Via Mashable, here’s a story which has probably gone a little bit too far over in the states due to a lack of Christmas time news. A group of mums have staged a protest outside Facebook‘s offices in Palo Alto, California, due to some images of breastfeeding mums being removed from the site. Why? Facebook’s policy is to remove any pictures of breasts where the nipple or areola is on display. As of today, over 75,000 mums have joined the Facebook group campaigning against the ban.
So, who is right or wrong here?
One one hand I totally side with Facebook on this one. Facebook is meant to be a place where people can network with their friends and share information, but in a safe and harmless way – i.e. it’s very hard to get offended by something on Facebook, unlike other social networks which let you run riot and post anything you like.
On the other hand breastfeeding isn’t at all smutty, and is an essential part of human existence. I was breastfed myself, and i’m putting my healthy existence as a child in part down to the fact I was breastfed. Seriously though, if Facebook wish to ban breastfeeding, then why not ban photos of people kissing, or other ‘on the edge’ stuff?
One thing that does stink from this story is the slightly crusaderish attitude to their cause from some of the mums. Even in an interview with MSNBC (click here for the video), an angry mum insists on breastfeeding her child in full view of the nation. If she’d shown her nipple or areola on TV, it’d have caused an outrage. She might even complain herself in the future if her children are exposed to images of breasts before the adult TV watershed.
There has to be some sense of realism and these mums need to appreciate that Facebook is a medium very much in the public domain. Whilst having pictures on your profile of you and your baby breastfeeding is fine, going overboard and showing too much crosses the line for a substantial amount of people.
So what do you think? Are there some things in life that should be kept even a little sacred?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve said all along that nudity does not constitute obscenity. However, some things are way to personal to be widely socially acceptable. There’s nothing wrong with breastfeeding. There’s nothing wrong with nose picking, ass wiping, ear swabbing, teeth flossing, and sexual intercourse. Just please don’t do them in public.
I love boobs