Facebook Policy: Removal of Breastfeeding Photos Stirs Protests On, At Facebook
Protests by mothers over Facebook’s removal of breastfeeding photos posted to the site have gained worldwide attention this week.
The protests were started back in August by Facebook users Kelli Roman and Stephanie Knapp Muir when they created the Facebook Group Hey, Facebook, breastfeeding is not obscene! (Official petition to Facebook), dubbing the movement “MILC” (Mothers International Lactation Campaign). Roman and Muir started the group because photos mothers had posted of themselves breastfeeding their children had been taken down by Facebook for violation of Facebook’s terms of service.
Since then, the Facebook Group has grown to over 130,000 people, and group members last weekend organized a “nurse-in” in front of Facebook’s Palo Alto, CA headquarters to protest Facebook’s removal of breastfeeding photos. Here’s a YouTube video from the event:
In the days following the “nurse-in,” the MILC campaign garnered more attention in the national media. On Wednesday, CBS ran a 5 minute segment on its morning show discussing the debate:
For its part, Facebook says it is unlikely to change its policy, which prohibits nudity in photos. Facebook spokesperson Barry Schnitt said this week that Facebook takes no action on most breastfeeding photos, and that its rules are intended to keep Facebook a safe environment for children:
“Breastfeeding is a natural and beautiful act and we’re very glad to know that it is so important to some mothers to share this experience with others on Facebook. We take no action on the vast majority of breastfeeding photos because they follow the site’s Terms of Use. Photos containing a fully exposed breast do violate those Terms and may be removed. These policies are designed to ensure Facebook remains a safe, secure and trusted environment for all users, including the many children (over the age of 13) who use the site. The photos we act upon are almost exclusively brought to our attention by other users who complain.”
“Certainly we can agree that there is context where nudity is not obscene, but we are reviewing thousands of complaints a day. Whether it’s obscene, art or a natural act — we’d rather just leave it at nudity and draw the line there.”
We’ll continue following the story and any further updates on Facebook’s policies in the months ahead.
January 4th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Whilst not obscene, I think most of the children in the photos will be grateful for Facebook’s stance….not the sort of photo a teenager wants his classmates flashing around in years to come
January 4th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
ha! what every facebook addict needs :)
http://www.faceoogle.com
January 4th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Showing breastfeeding was always been a weapon of feminists. They want to ascertain that breasts are meant only for breastfeeding, and no other purposes.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Just how exactly does seeing a breast harm a child? What harm is Facebook protecting them from?
This has absolutely nothing to do with “keeping children safe”. It is entirely about preventing offense to the minority of adults who should know better.
What is worse, it encourages attitudes which are known to be harmful, sometimes very harmful. Harming children because of adult prejudices and hiding behind a smokescreen of protecting children is despicable.
It’s a breast, get over it.
February 8th, 2009 at 10:22 am
[...] step when engaging Facebook for harassment purposes. Facebook has responded to complaints that breast feeding images are inappropriate, but some tens of thousands of protests were lodged on this exclusion. [...]
February 13th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
[...] the social networking site, Facebook, has been intertwined in a controversy that has lasted for over a year by banning photographs of women breastfeeding. On December 27, [...]