Posting selfies on facebook is nothing new (for some people).
Posting unattractive pictures on facebook is nothing new (for some people. And, eh, maybe me).
Ridiculous gimmicks on facebook are nothing new (for some people).
Ridiculous gimmicks ‘for charity’ (note sarcasm) on facebook are nothing new (for some…you get my drift).
Remember a couple of years ago, when girls posted where they left their handbag when they got home, except what they actually wrote was “I like it on the hall floor” or “I like it on the armchair by the window”; so that all the silly men thought they were talking about sex and it was all one big, hilarious us-against-them secret game?
Or something like that.
The point was to “raise awareness of breast cancer”.
I’m not entirely sure how that was supposed to raise awareness of breast cancer, but my newsfeed exploded with intimate revelations of clutch bags on counters, satchels on settees and totes on tables. I mean, wild sexual exploits. I mean, handbags. I mean, breast cancer.
This time round, the idea was to post a ‘make-up free selfie’.
“Here is my make-up free selfie to raise awareness of breast cancer. I nominate X, Y and Z to remove their slap and do the same.”
Fine, I suppose.
I’m sure it takes a lot of guts for some people to post a picture of themselves, au naturale.
(Although, I dispute some of their authenticity. Several have clearly gone through at least one instagram filter. A few appear to have cheated with some concealer and/or subtle mascara and/or eyebrow filling. And one was definitely wearing false eyelashes. Do they count as make-up??)
But how does that actually raise awareness of breast cancer?
I mean, I don’t imagine many people have forgotten about breast cancer.
“Ooh, Tracey* looks a bit rough without make-up. Oh, hang on. Breast cancer still exists!”
This article from Closer Online explains how most people were missing the point. In short, it started as a campaign from beauty retailer Essencual.com – where women were sponsored to go without make-up for a day/a week/a month.
I say “most” people were missing the point. They weren’t being sponsored. They didn’t mention how to donate to charity, or even how to check yourself. Some of them didn’t even include the words “breast cancer”, forcryingoutloud.
Of course, some did. But – it has to be said – this became a LOT more frequent after various arguments erupted over the whole thing.
Some people felt the same as me (I’m not saying I’m right, or anything – this is obviously a pretty subjective subject. Wait, that can’t be a thing. A subjective subject? Anyway, you know what I mean. Hopefully) – in that simply posting a photo doesn’t raise awareness of cancer. Argue with me all you like, it just doesn’t.
Other people felt the ‘selfies’ were more about attention-seeking, or fishing for compliments. That doesn’t bother me, really. For a start, isn’t that what lots of facebook posts are about? And like I said before, it’s a big step for some people.
But whatever your take on the situation, whatever side of the fence you’re perched on, it did the job.
By the end of the day, almost EVERYONE was talking about breast cancer.
And then people DID start donating money; telling others how to donate; reminding women – and men – how to check themselves.
Cancer Research UK posted this message on their facebook page:
Thousands of you are posting #cancerawareness #nomakeupselfie pictures and many have asked if the campaign is ours. It’s not but we love that people want to get involved! If you’d like to help beat cancer sooner, please visit our website at http://bit.ly/1hAa1uD or text to donate using the code in the picture.
You’ll be charged £3 plus one message at your standard network rate. We’ll receive at least £2.95 depending on your operator. Full T&Cs can be found here: http://www.cruk.org/text
And the charity saw a surge in donations.
So I guess, in the end, it all came good.
And a few complexions probably got a well-deserved breather.
For the record, this was my effort:
Boyfriend: About that picture…
Me: Yes..?
Boyfriend: Your boobs are on the internet!
Me: It’s not like there’s much to see… there are photos of me in bikinis that are far more revealing. [Please, no one look these up.]
Boyfriend: It’s more that the picture focuses exclusively on your chebs.
Me: But you can’t see any chebs! A tiny bit of bra, a hand and some décolletage. It’s totes PG.
A short while later…
Gay friend: Cracking tits, Aldo!
Me: IT’S DECOLLETAGE. *pause* But thanks…
*I don’t know a Tracey. If I did, I’m sure she’d look lovely without make-up.
