Forum Discussion

gilliann's avatar
gilliann
Member
12 years ago

Cancer selfie

Social media can be a wonderful thing and promote very admirable causes however it can also be a vehicle for insensitive and stupid posts. This came to light with the recent cancer selfie campaign. For those of you who haven't heard of it was basically a campaign that started on a social media site. It involved posting a picture of yourself on Facebook/Twitter etc without any make up on. It mentions something like no make up to promote breast cancer awareness, you then donate money via text message and nominate your friends to take part, kind of like a chain letter. It wasn't an official cancer research uk campaign but it apparently raised £8 million pounds in a course of few days. I know a lot of sufferers were pretty offended by it as a lot of participants done it out of vanity and attached it to a charitable cause without actually doing anything. I personally wasn't offended but failed to see the relevance in the no make up campaign especially as it had no information about cancer. I suppose the world we live in now is obsessed with self infatuation. I read a really interesting article written about a fellow survivor and it's really interesting read. What do you think? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2595450/These-selfies-make-livid-Why-cancer-survivor-JENNI-MURRAY-angry-stars-helped-raise-millions-posting-photos-no-make-up.html

1 Reply

  • Mia1965's avatar
    Mia1965
    Member
    12 years ago

    Hi Gillian,

    How are you? Wow that is a lot of money. i just hope it gets to the right people who need it the most? Recently on fb there was a lady who was going through BC and she invitied her friends to a luncheon for support. They all decided to support her through the means of having their heads shaved and having their phots taken together. It was truely inspirational to say the least and I commend those ladies for doing such a selfless thing for their dearest friend. losing my hair to cancer was the most devastating thing I have ever exxperienced in my entire life!!! I do agree with you about using self awareness to this terrible disease as a Social Media tool. It can be quite intrusive to cancer sufferers lives. I only hope the people who took part felt some sort of benefit because of it!!! 

    Best of luck with your cancer journey, take care always XXX Mia.