As early as 2007, Facebook began quietly censoring pictures of breastfeeding babies which members had posted to their Facebook profiles. They did this by simply removing the pictures of the nursing babies after they were posted. In some cases, users were warned if they continued posting such “obscene” content, they stood to lose their Facebook accounts. Facebook – you win the booby prize.
Well, it’s not so quiet any more. Earlier this week, a small but targeted protest occurred outside of Facebook’s headquarters in Palo Alto, California. And while the protest may have been small, the associated Facebook group, “Hey, Facebook, breastfeeding is not obscene!”, has garnered more than 94,933 members!
In fact, the Facebook group is behind the first “M.I.L.C.” (Mothers International Lactating Campaign – yes, it is a stretch), which coincided with the in-person protest at Facebook HQ. During the MILC, more than 11,000 people posted breastfeeding pictures to their Facebook accounts; according to the group, “Many members received warnings and had photos removed during and after the event.”
You can read more, and join the “Hey, Facebook, breastfeeding is not obscene!” group, here.
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Anyone who thinks breastfeeding is obscene better never go to Europe. Everywhere you go you see pornographic statues or paintings or frescoes of naked women and men. I’m talking the full monty here. A week in Europe and you will melt down. Basically you need to get down off your puritan pedestal and recognise it’s not obscene it’s natural and nurturing. It is a beautiful thing just like those statues and paintings.
I think bfing is very obscene and should not be tolerated.
Brestfeeding is not obscene. Time for Facebook to wake up. Time for America to wake up… we have too many people who think it is obscene. Too much repression.
Extremely US-centric of Facebook. In Europe, nobody sees breast-feeding as an obscene act. Facebook needs to understand it is an international website.
I don’t think breastfeeding is obscene, but, well, they’re the administrators so I guess it’s their choice.