Facebook users are using images of cartoon characters as their profile picture. This is supposed to be in support of a trigger. Many different toons are getting used. These profile photos are meant to “bring awareness” and fight child abuse.
Pictures of cartoon characters as profile pictures on Facebook
The past few days this message has made its way around the Facebook world, “Change your FB profile picture to a cartoon from your childhood. The goal? To not see a human face on FB. Join the fight against child abuse. Copy & paste to your status to invite your friends to do the same.” Thousands of people have taken part in this cause using cartoons from mostly the 80's and 90's. Some that are used a lot are Pinky and the Brain, Strawberry Shortcake, and Might Mouse.
Childhood cartoons and child abuse
This is not the very first time that Facebook profile pictures and Facebook statuses have been used to raise awareness for various issues. Often, there is a specific issue chosen for awareness. The problem is that awareness doesn't necessarily tell people how to actually make a change. Although there isn't any data to show how many individuals changed their picture to be a part of this movement, by visual effect alone there appears to be thousands taking part.
What more to do
The issue of child abuse is a lot bigger and takes a lot more than memories of our own childhoods. Knowing a problem is a problem, and acting on it are not the same. When I’m not discounting how essential awareness is, you need to take action beyond that to fully help the cause. To make a change demands more than posting a cartoon, nevertheless spreading the awareness to others is a good step. If you feel inclined to you can always donate to child abuse centers, but a free easy way to take more action is to include the National Child Abuse Hotline phone number as part of your status so people know where to call for help, 1-800-4-A-CHILD. Until you take real action, a childhood cartoon is just a picture, not advocacy.
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