The case of the hijacked meme.
Lately, social media has been letting me down. I’m afraid as a society, we’ve been lulled into this false belief that if we send out a quick tweet with a link to an organization, or change our profile picture, or take 20 seconds to write a status update- that we deserve a hefty pat on the back for making a difference.
At the moment, my Facebook stream is filled with updated profile pics of cartoon characters. I’ve started seeing Rainbow Brite, Smurfs, Roadrunner, and good ole’ Wile E. Coyote.
You see, everyone is posting a pic of their favorite childhood cartoon.
Why?
Here’s one version of the status that is attached:
In support of anti-child violence, change your Facebook profile picture to a cartoon from your childhood. Until Monday Dec. 6, there should be no human faces on Facebook, but an invasion of memories. Join the fight against CHILD ABUSE. Invite your friends to do the same.
This is the status that evolved around Decmber 3rd- or so. But according to sites like Know Your Meme.com, and Huffington Post, the meme originally started in Greece, in early November. Here is the supposed original message:
From the 12th to the 22nd of November, change your profile picture on Facebook to an image from a cartoon from your childhood. The goal of the game? Not to have a single human face on Facebook, but an invasion of our collective childhood memories for the time of a week. It’s up to you to take action and to forward this message.
It was originally supposed to be a game- a fun way to remember our childhood- and for a moment, forget about the grumpy, old adults we’ve become. Leave it to us Americans to hijack a meme, slap a cause on it, and pay a lot of lip service.
I’m over it, people.
It’s like hanging your sweaty shirt out the window, letting it air out, then putting it back on and pretending it’s washed.
It ain’t freakin’ washed.
The only “awareness” I feel is being raised, is that for the violence against Wile. E. Coyote. And if that’s the goal- then fine. Lord knows, one animal can only take so many anvils.
*****
But if you want to raise awareness about violence against children? Or join the fight to stop child abuse?
Then post something like this:
Almost five children die everyday as a result of child abuse. 90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way. Go to www.ChildHelp.org to learn how you can help spread the word, volunteer, or donate.
Or even something as easy as this:
Do you know or suspect a child is being abused? Call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-a-child.
I’m not saying there aren’t people out there with good hearts. I’m saying this cartoon meme is bullshit, and is NOT raising awareness about anything. It’s sparking conversation about why The Smurfs were better that The Little’s. Why? Because we all loved Saturday morning cartoons, and it’s fun to talk about, and to see who liked what cartoon, and what that says about them. And guess what? That is what the meme was originally supposed to be about!
So, to those of you out there with good hearts, I say to you: I love your heart. But it is my belief that change is facilitated when good hearts meet good minds, and take good action.
Do something.
Or at the very least, include some pertinent information in your status update.
Brilliant as always. I agree wholeheartedly.
Sharni recently posted..Middle Eastern Flavoured Party
Perfect! SO VERY PERFECT!
Jenni, you worded this so much kinder than I did over on my blog. (LOL). I couldn’t believe how many people called me names, said I was assuming things, and I even lost a friend over it.
I completely agree with you. Thinking that a status update is going to end child abuse is really just a fantasy. Kind of like those cartoon characters.
Ditto. And, really, I think people know they’re not raising any kind of real awareness. It’s just a way to fool ourselves into thinking we’ve done something good for the day.
Agreed mostly. But I don’t think the majority – at least the majority of my friends – feel they deserve a hefty pat on the back, or feel that they have now done their good deed for the year.
Many are involved in other charities and orgs. I think most are really doing it for the original intent; to “forget about the grumpy, old adults we’ve become”. But, interestingly enough, there’s possibly some good side effects of “hijacking a meme”. Think of it this way:
1) Silly announcement goes out about changing profile pic to a cartoon to raise awareness about child abuse.
2) Tons of people start changing their pic (including me)
3) Several friends of mine are annoyed about all the “robots” changing their pics because it’s a seemingly useless way to really raise awareness
4) One of them posts a link to your article.
4) I think, “come on, so what?! it at least gets the issue of child abuse to flash across our minds for a few moments”. I also see the one friend’s link to your article, follow it, read it, and learn about two other potentially better ways to help fight child abuse. And the probability of me now going to http://www.ChildHelp.org is now much higher than it otherwise might have been. If that same occurrence happens across only a very small percentage of Facebook users, is that a potentially powerful result? Would you have written this article, and mentioned ChildHelp and the NCAH otherwise? (apologies if you already have
Also, your readers, perhaps seeing this comment may be inclined to follow my link to the charity event in support of the Children’s National Medical Center — — and help the kids with a small donation (as well as help me justify this silly mustache I’ve been growing for the past 3 weeks, lol, The power of social media and the web!)
Thanks for your post!
-Dan
Dan recently posted..So far this page has raised 1-25500
Some valid points, Dan. But I think getting the issue of “child abuse to flash across our minds for a few moments” does no good without any helpful or important information attached. It’s like putting up a picture of pizza and saying “people are hungry in other parts of the world”. We all know some people go hungry. Tell us how we can help.
While it’s true that now some actual discussion is going on about the issue- it’s due to some people calling “bullshit”. Seems to me, “bullshit” is not the best way to go about raising awareness.
PS- Mustaches, however, are cool, Tom Selleck-y, and an excellent way to raise funds.
I had to laugh with relief upon reading this. I saw that everyone had popped up cartoon pics for their profiles … I thought we were supposed to put up a pic that looked like ourselves. As my little joke with me, I put up -yes- Wile E. Coyote. (I think he is actually a strong representation of of I look inside.) THEN I read the child abuse thing and felt sort of terrible that I was having fun when I should be serious. Now I read yours and I feel superior to everyone. And glad I didn’t donate my status message to a faux cause.
I do want it noted that Wile E. Coyote rocks.
Mama Bear recently posted..1-2-3-4 Whatre We Learning For
I am so glad that you felt superior to everyone else. My work is done.
I believe the term “slacktivism” fits perfectly here. Truly worrisome.
I believe as worrisome as it is… it is also my new favorite term.
Great article, thanks!
Sean Spellecy recently posted..Safe on the Internet 100 of the time
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
This whole thing reminds me of the two memes that went around the last couple of years around breast cancer awareness–one was post the color of your bra and the other the location of your…purse I think? Just that one word, and that was somehow supposed to raise “awareness” of breast cancer. Like somehow a word, or a cartoon, is going to do anything.
FB activism–doing the absolute least amount possible, just for fun!
Haha! What was funny about the bra and purse one, was that it was kept secret from the “men folk”. So seriously, how do you raise awareness by keeping it a secret?
I could be really mad at you right now for making me feel sheepish, and perhaps feel a little insulted.
However, your right… it didn’t raise all that much awareness (perhaps until now because of people like you). In fact, a lot of my friends didn’t even know there was a cause attached!
Why do you always have to make me think about hard stuff?…
Perhaps because I know you’re so smart.
word… and very well said.
(Hanging my head in shame.) Call me one of the clueless, lazy little sheep who were led to social media slaughter. Gulp. I changed my profile picture. To the Jetsons, no less. Hopefully in their world, child abuse does not exist, but in ours, it does. I know that first hand.
Boy do I feel like an ass. I had no idea that this started out as a gag/joke/game (whatever you want to call it.) I have a friend who is the founder of a domestic violence organization, and she has done similar things like this on FB, so I ASSummed that this was similar. (notice the emphasis on that first half of the word.)
I see Dan’s point, but agree with you that there are other ways to get the message across. Sometimes just stating that message does not “get it across” though. I think most people, with their busy schedules, may glaze over a post that I make about childhelp.org, but asking them to change their photo to a favorite childhood cartoon would invoke much more interest. The message that went with the cartoon change should have included some websites or more info about child abuse. Changing ones photo to a cartoon was quick, effective, and fun. Look how quickly it spread like wildfire. How do we get the message across so it sinks in-so people actually take the time to learn more about our causes? And just think–if we can influence people with a little cartoon, what we can really do for causes, if given the right tools.
Rock on Jennie–I humbly ask your forgiveness for being an idiot. You are right.
(PS: Got your message in my comments– I could not get your link feed to work for some reason. You want me for tea? Okay, sounds good!)
Jules from A Little Bite of Life recently posted..Beautiful Gifts- Blush Candles
Bravo my dear! I didn’t change mine-thought it was crap. I agree, it’s not raising awareness about anything. Everytime I saw a cartoon character I didn’t think about how to prevent child abuse…I thought about how awesome that particular cartoon was! You are always spot on and I love how you speak your mind. Keep it up!!
I’m new to you via SITS, so this post is my first taste at your blog. WOW! lol
I totally get what you’re saying and I commend you for speaking your mind in a world where many fear judgment. I notices the cartoons, but didn’t know the why. Truth be told, I didn’t much care! I did however enjoy the trip down memory lane so I guess “version one” worked on some afterall!
Genevieve
http://www.celebrate2da.com
Kudos to you! I couldn’t have said it better myself (no, really, I couldn’t). I wish people would ask themselves a couple of questions before changing a picture, forwarding an email, posting a status, etc. Firstly, “is this legitimate” and, secondly, “is this the best possible way to make an impact/difference”.
Thank you, for this. Now you won’t mind me sharing this on Facebook, right?!?
Share away, my friend. I swear I’m legit… Plus, the more people exposed to my brilliance the better.
lmaoooooo OK! I’m so gonna love you! =)
Genevieve Le Bel recently posted..FREE holiday tags for your DIY gifts!
i am working on a post along this same thing for tomorrow! i can’t stand when people do this on FB.
i’m going to link back to your post so people can see how they can REALLY help.
Alexandria recently posted..30 Days of Truth-Love Me
What was hard is that almost all of my friends did it. So, I definitely ruffled some feathers.
And I’m not saying everyone that did it sucks- just that it is NOT a very efficient way to facilitate any kind of change.
Speak your mind, lady!
THANK YOU! I have been tweeting about this, actually, its been driving me nuts!
Jennie @ Modern Mamaz recently posted..Better Luck Next Time
THANK YOU! All of these silly statuses in FB that pretty much mean nothing to people are getting on my nerves. The fact is that child abuse awareness was on their mind until the notice scrolled off of their screen. I agree, if you REALLY want to help with child abuse, go to their official website. Changing your avatar, I’m sure, didn’t really help not even one child.
Betty (bcatgray) recently posted..It’s Cold Out How to Feel Warm & Fuzzy Inside
I didn’t change my avatar. Didn’t care.
And it’s NOT that I don’t care about child abuse.
It’s just that my picture was so much cooler than a cartoon. So there.