FB bows to users pressure and removes feeling fat emoticon
Facebook users no longer can post Feeling Fat emoticon on their status update as Facebook has removed this option after it got multiple petitions from activists
Removing the Feeling Fat emoticon was a response to a petition launched by activists associated with Endangered Bodies, a group that fights body hatred internationally.
The Petition which said “fat is not a feeling,” and that by including the smiling, double-chinned emoticon, Facebook was “encouraging negative body image among girls.” gained more than 16,000 signatures in just few days.
Such a large scale user opposition finally made Facebook sit up and remove the Feeling Fat emoticon, a spokesperson from the FB said that,
“We’ve heard from our community that listing ‘feeling fat’ as an option for status updates could reinforce negative body image, particularly for people struggling with eating disorders. “So we’re going to remove ‘feeling fat’ from the list of options.
The ‘feeling fat’ option is no longer available, but the emoticon with chubby cheeks remains. It’s labeled ‘feeling stuffed’.”
Facebook will keep listening to feedback as it helps Facebook to help people express their feelings or emotions, the spokesperson added further.
The petitions on Change.org was few of the several petitions launched online by the Activist group Endangered Bodies, as part of a February Campaign on National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.
The Petition filed by the 24-year-old student Catherine Weingarten garnered huge support among Facebook users and managed to get 16,000 signatories. The petition on Change.org stated that,
“As someone who has struggled with and overcome disordered eating, I know what it’s like to “feel” fat. I have spent years of my life consumed with negative thoughts about my body, and far too many days starving myself in an effort to lose weight. But even worse than the skipped meals and the hours spent obsessing in front of the mirror was the fear of what others thought about me and my body.
When Facebook users set their status to “feeling fat,” they are making fun of people who consider themselves to be overweight, which can include many people with eating disorders. That is not ok. Join me in asking Facebook to remove the “fat” emoji from their status options.”
The Feeling Fat emoticon is no longer available on the Facebook however, “feeling stuffed” emoticon with same rosy-cheek is still available. Moreover Facebook users can still update several other emoticons like, ‘feeling full’, “feeling ugly” etc, which may be offensive to someone.
