Mothers protest at Facebook ban on 'offensive' breastfeeding photos

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

 

Last updated at 12:49 AM on 31st December 2008

 

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Facebook has banned mothers from posting photos of themselves breastfeeding their children. The decision to remove the 'inappropriate' photos has caused protests by women's groups.

The social networking site, which has over 120million members, claimed that those images which show too much breast violate its terms and conditions.

It has warned that users who continue to post photos which it deems inappropriate could lose their access to the site. Facebook spokesman Barry Schnitt said the website takes no action over most breastfeeding photos because they follow the site's terms of use.

 

Protesters outside Facebook's headquarters in Palo Alto, California are angry that the site has banned some breastfeeding images

But others are removed to ensure the site remains safe and secure for all users, including children, he said.

'Photos containing a fully exposed breast (as defined by showing the nipple or areola) do violate those terms (on obscene, pornographic or sexually explicit material) and may be removed,' Mr Schnitt said in a statement. 'The photos we act upon are almost exclusively brought to our attention by other users who complain.'

But Facebook's decision to ban the photographs has angered many users, including U.S. mother Kelli Roman, whose photograph of her feeding her daughter was removed from the site.

Facebook removed a photo of US mother Kelli Roman breastfeeding her daughter

 

Mrs Roman is one of the administrators of an online petition called 'Hey Facebook, breastfeeding is not obscene!'.

The campaign has picked up speed in the past week after protesters organised a virtual 'nursein' on the site, as well as a small demonstration outside Facebook's offices in California.

The petition has now attracted more than 80,000 names and more than 10,000 comments, reigniting the debate about women's right to breastfeed in public.

Organisers of the petition said some women had been warned not to repost photographs which had already been removed from their pages or they would lose their Facebook accounts.

One mother whose photos were taken down from the site wrote: 'I find it offensive that (Facebook) can remove my photo but not the close-up picture of a thonged backside I have seen on a friend's page – or remove the "what kama sutra position are you?" quiz application.'

oh mannnnnnnnnn

It's not because we can see your breasts ladies, is for protection for the babies against evil people who like hurting babies, such as Baby P.

^i would agree with that David... i mean i don't get why some parents are like that posting lots of pics of their kids (i understand them, they want to share their happiness) but taking into account how many mad people is on internet :confused:

 

btw my dad told me about that yesterday....

 

some weeks ago i've read something similar related with Angelia Jolie, they didn't let her appear doing that with her babies, as as she is a sex symbol some people will take that wrong. :confused: (that's what the article said).

 

btw i've seen worst pics and i don't know why facebook hadn't banned them, them promote worst stuff as taking drugs, which no doubt is worst than that.

Facebook banning harmless stuff, but promote loan sharks

I hate Facebook altogether. They remove things they shouldn't and they allow far too much horrible things to be said without doing anything.

I refuse to sign up to Facebook. MySpace is enough for me and I dont even like it that much.

I switched to facebook mainly because myspace is so trashy with advertisements and pop-ups everywhere. Facebook is much cleaner and has more to offer IMO.

I refuse to sign up to Facebook. MySpace is enough for me and I dont even like it that much.

same here. I only have a band myspace for promotion of music

I tried posting a picture of myself urinating my name into the snow, but Facebook took that down, too! Penises aren't always sexual, people!

 

/sarcasm.

I don't understand why parents would post pictures of their children on the internet.. The level of privacy on facebook can be very low, and there are so many predators out there- it would be better for them to share the pictures only with their close relatives and friends, who actually WANT to see those pictures. Because..

 

The photos we act upon are almost exclusively brought to our attention by other users who complain

 

It seems that people on those mothers' friend list DO NOT want to see these pictures, since they are reporting them.

Why does this batshit woman want pictures of herself breastfeeding on the internet anyway?

 

Fucking dyke.

 

SHUT UP! :angry:

is just me or this new user is yak on disguise :sick:

is just me or this new user is yak on disguise :sick:

 

Definitely connected in some way.;)

The one in the blue on the first picture is my mum! She's with my little brother :D

Facebook's security isn't that watertight, even if you set your profile to private to limit it to other friends, there are ways around it.