Facebook cartoon character campaign 'nothing to do with the NSPCC', charity says
By Sara Nelson
Last updated at 9:24 AM on 6th December 2010A Facebook campaign which purports to fight child abuse by asking users to change their profile picture to that of their favourite cartoon character has run into controversy.
The campaign, which urges the image swap, has swept the social networking site and boasts a group page of nearly 90,000 fans. While many believe the viral originated from the children's charity the NSPCC, it has denied any involvement, although welcomes the focus on the work it does.
However, disturbingly, rumours are now sweeping the net that the campaign is actually a smokescreen for paedophiles hoping to narrow down which users are children.
The Facebook campaign urges users to change their profile picture to that of favourite cartoon character
The Facebook message reads: ‘Change your FB picture to a cartoon from your childhood. The goal is not to see a human face on FB until Monday (Dec 6th) Join the fight against child abuse & copy and paste to your status!
No one has come forward to claim responsibility for the campaign. The NSPCC posted the following statement on its Twitter page: ‘Although the NSPCC did not originate the childhood cartoon Facebook campaign, we welcome the attention it has brought to the work we do.’
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But one Facebooker asked: ‘How is this gonna help stop child abuse? Sounds like something a paedophile would do!’
Another user posted the following warning: ‘The paedophiles have it easy finding the kids this way from a cartoon in your past! Obviously if someone posts Spongebob Square Pants it’s probably a kid, now Betty Boop an adult!’
Some of the popular choices for Facebook profile pictures have included Betty Boop, Donald Duck, He-Man, Bananaman, Homer Simpson and Garfield
Blogger Shayne House said: ‘Changing your profile picture does not really support the NSPCC unless it inspires or encourages you or someone else to volunteer or donate, which hopefully it will. Did it inspire you?'
As the mystery continues to swirl – indeed the US National Child Abuse Prevention Month isn’t until April - the enormous scale of influence the campaign is having is being noted across the world.
According to the LA Times, nearly every of the 20 most actively searched terms on Google were to do with ‘old cartoons’ on Saturday morning.
Facebook has a history of turning causes viral, most recently with one which claimed to raise the profile of Breast Cancer Awareness Month by encouraging users to make cryptic, suggestive status updates.
The NSPCC has denied any involvement in the campaign - but admitted it welcomed the attention
The ‘I like it on the floor’ update raised eyebrows across the social networking website – largely due its flirty connotations.
The phrase, which also sees users substitute the word ‘floor’ for kitchen table, stairs, couch or any location of their choosing, appeared to be an unofficial attempt to raise awareness of the disease.
Of course the mystery lay in what ‘it’ could possibly be.
Fortunately, it was nothing smutty at all – rather it referred to where women like to leave their handbags – and the game seemed to be an attempt to unite women for a cause while keeping men guessing.
While breast cancer charities were quick to point out they were in no way affiliated with the campaign, they were keen to support its underlying message.
And indeed thanks to the power of Facebook, the phrase became one of the top searched internet phrases of the moment.
Add your commentsComments (93)
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What is the basis for paedophiles using this to find children? Adults have posted cartoon characters as well. Surely it is easier to find a child from their normal picture? And what are these "rumours sweeping the net", sounds like the Mail saw a comment on Facebook by some brainless idiot and decided it constituted news.
- Janis, Nottingham, England, 06/12/2010 10:47
It is exactly this kind of jumping to conclusions that prevents people being able to trust the media.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
This is a campaign raising awareness internationally for today, Monday, which is the International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Children.
A proper and worthy cause that is being made more aware by viral campaigns such as this.
Get some sort of fact before you report on a rumour.
- Sasha, London, 06/12/2010 10:46
Something like this should make people aware of child abuse not hijacked by scaremongering journos as usual its just a rumor so some people are now worried they'll be accused of being a pedo i agree with tipperj if some weirdo wanted to chat to a child surely they would just have to look at that childs profile not a cartoon character my friends and i also found it amusing remembering our fav characters
- jeff63, manchester, 06/12/2010 10:45
i believe it is sort of like a fisher fishing for fish. You know it probably is a pedophile organization or club or whatever it may be . we live in a crazy world nothing is to farfetched these days who knows pedophiles might even be commenting in this website saying oh its not pedophiles its something else people can be very clever at times. so fathers and mothers of the world this should be a sign to take those cartoon pictures off your profile most of us are grown anyways why the hell do we need to put cartoon caracters for our profile it sounds retarded excuse my french, if people wanna help volunteer or donate to real charities dont change your profile picture your facebook should be ur facebook what im saying is the only thing a profile picture should have is something you took ok people wake up.
- daniel, california, 06/12/2010 10:42
I refuse to change my pic as the NSPCC only supports English and Welsh children. It's the same as the RSPCA.
- KM, Rhu, 06/12/2010 10:42
stupid, stupid, stupid.
we are so scared of pedophiles now a day's its a joke.
this is just another facebook meme.
just think about it for one second. is it easier to tell someone is a child or an adult by looking at a picture of them or by looking at a random cartoon character? are pedophiles attracted to images of children or pictures of cartoon characters?
such a dumb article. i wish they never extended facebook past college kids/alums. too much drama.
- rotero, concord, 06/12/2010 10:39
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