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Recently, Facebook banned pictures of a woman showing her mastectomy scars, calling the images "sexual and abusive." For anyone who has seen these pictures, those are not words they inspire. However, Facebook has taken back its original ban and apologized to Sharon Adams, the poster of the pictures and breast cancer survivor.
After the original decision was made, hundreds of users in the U.K. protested and railed against Facebook. Users even created online groups such as "Get Sharon Adams Picture on Facebook for Breast Cancer," which has over 900 members.
In a conversation with the Daily Mail, Sharon Adams explained her motives: "I put these pictures out on Facebook to put a message out to women– check your breasts regularly and do not ever be ashamed of a mastectomy."
Of course, this is not the first time users have been outraged by one of Facebook's decisions in what is appropriate for the site; other controversial issues have included breastfeeding women and Holocaust denial groups.
Facebook issued a written apology that stated the photos did not violate their policies and that its oversight was due to reviewing too many photos. [From: Daily Mail, via ShinyShiny]
Banned Facebook Groups
Facebook is a great venue for humiliating oneself with ranting and raving, but, like most things, people can take things too far. Give someone a soapbox (or in this case, a Facebook group) and there are sure to be others crazy enough to follow them. Here are some examples of Facebook groups that crossed the line and were banned from the site.
Assasinate Evo Morales
Here's a good way to get your group banned -- call for the assassination of a political leader. Titled 'Global Collection to Hire a Sharpshooter to Liquidate Evo Morales' was taken down by Facebook since it bans threatening violence. No surprises here.
Getty Images
Surrey, BC Terrorist Group
A Facebook group supporting the International Sikh Youth Federation, a banned terrorist organization, was taken down by Canadian Police. Authorities were tipped off to the group because its page depicted a young person holding a prohibited gun, which was eventually traced back to 49-year old Bahadur Sandhur. Police seized it and two others when they investigated his home.
Dead Babies Group
Facebook took down a group called 'Dead Babies Make Me Laugh' after the UK Sun was flooded with outraged calls and emails. A running joke on campuses, the group included fake anecdotes about killing babies, but mothers weren't laughing even though the group was created and classified as being "just for fun."
I Need Sex Group
Laura Michaels of Bristol, England, created a Facebook group called 'I Need Sex.' According to the UK Sun, the group had more than 100 members after being up for only one hour. Michaels claims to have ended up sleeping with 50 of the group's members -- literally half of the group. Facebook opposes this type of personals-ad use, so the group was taken down.
KKK group
Facebook recently shut down a group called the 'Isle of Man KKK.' The group called for the elimination of newcomers from the UK island and featured a picture of a hooded Ku Klux Klan member. Thankfully, Facebook's terms of service prohibits content that is hateful or threatening.
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Comments
47
Subscribe to commentsmnywearJun 8th 2009 2:53AM
this is why i like myspace!!!! tom has his sh*# together!
Phyllis ClarkJun 9th 2009 7:31AM
I would never disrespect a survivor, however, one must question the motive of the survivor. There are millions of photos available that are purely clinical. I think a time and place for everything applies here.
ondreyJun 9th 2009 10:23AM
Is anything private anymore? Since the advent of myspace, facebook, and twitter it seems people are compelled to put their entire lives out there for all to see. Well cancer scars, breast feeding pics etc. are private and not everyone wants to see it. People are taking their freedom of expression too far!
gerrihan65Jun 9th 2009 11:45AM
If you don't want to see Sharon Adams' pictures, you don't have to look at them.
If you don't look a them, you might as well have your head in the sand.
Those pictures are a warning to all women that breast cancer is a very real danger. It can change your life as you know it or end it completely if it has the chance to metasticize. If you are too childish to see them as incentive to get yourself checked or nag a family member to get checked, then, you are not only in denial yourself, but you are also endagering the people you say you love.
If you don't understand her motives, don't criticize. It takes real guts and integrity to publish post-mastectomy photos. Most of you don't seem ot understand that what she did is empowering. She is not placing her value as a woman on her breasts alone. There are many women who have had mastectomies only to feel that their lives are over because they have lost their "femininity" along with their breast(s). They fail to see that they are worth more alive without breast than dead with them.
DavidJun 9th 2009 12:10PM
Are your kids on Facebook? Check out their account someday and see if they are posting or looking into the "Bathroom Wall"! This area is unprotected and kids 13 and younger are not only reading porn but posting it as well. Facebook is allowing this and it isn't safe.
RobertJun 9th 2009 12:57PM
Craig, your an idiot! Children should not see bare breasts? WTF!! The very reason we are all so sexually immature and insecure is we had made the human body shameful and pornographic. The human body is beautiful and should be celebrated. Breasts, penises, vaginas and butts are natural. Americans need to learn from the rest of the planet and not be so hung up on sex.
kaybyrdforeverJul 13th 2010 10:57AM
WHY DIDN'T THEY TAKE THIS OUT: http://brca-positive-preventative-mastectomy.blogspot.com/ IT IS EVEN MORE GRAPHIC THAN the one they are reporting on the english woman who looks so pretty in the face, so they gave her crap on Facebook, but since this lady isn't that gorgeous or whatever it is the English woman had, they never even blinked... CHECK THAT OUT. You want to see a real thing, watch that!