(Disclaimer: Many of you will read this and think that I am ignorant to the various attacks that happened throughout the world this past week and I want you to know I am aware and deeply hurt that the media did not broadcast these tragedies like they did with France. I support ALL people effected by senseless acts of violence and terrorism, and victims of random natural disasters. This post is specifically based off a conversation held in one of my classes about this topic. The choice to change my profile to support France does in no way reflect non support of other countries/groups of people as they battle violent acts. Thank You)
————————————————————
I sat in my new media class the Monday after terror attacks in France killed more than 100 and injured hundreds more. The topic of the class was centered around Facebook’s response to this national tragedy.
Shortly after the world was informed of this deadly attack, Facebook released two features for users to utilize specific to this event. One was Safty Check which allowed users to let their friends know if they were in the affected area and if they were safe. The other was a profile picture filter featuring the national flag of France.
My professor had started the class by asking how many of us changed our pictures to feature this filter. Only three people, including myself, raised their hands.
He then directed his next question to those who elected not to change their picture to the filter.
Why did you not change your picture to the filtered France flag version?
The answers came as a surprise to me.
Some of my classmates claimed that it was attention seeking to put yourself in a situation that did not affect you, that it was “trendy”, that people only did so so that others would think they care.
I did not agree but I did not speak up when I should have.
Here is what I should have said:
We attend the University of Massachusetts so odds are most of us know someone who was personally affected by the terrorist attacks at the Boston Marathon in 2013.
I’m sure you all remember the phrase that came out of that tragedy: Boston Strong.
Boston Strong was used all over the United States and other countries like England and France in the wake of the bombings. It was a phrase that relayed support to the victims, families, and the greater community of Boston. But overall it really signified that in a senseless act of violence, humanity still exsits world wide. Also, that we support each other and are rooting for each other in this long, sometimes dreadful, cycle of life.
You could find “Boston Strong” written in posts, tweets, about pages, and Twitter bios frequently with ease.
The France flag filters on Facebook are no different. It symbolized this same support for victims and families and the reassurance that humanity exists after a country’s vulnerability was exploited.
After all, in my opinion, terrorist attacks are a war on humanity more than a war on a specific group of people.
A phrase or Facebook filter may not make much of a physical impact but it serves as a virtual hug to the affected community. Sometimes people feel emotions and want to do what they can. It’s not attention seeking, it’s not to only follow a trend, and it’s not because of public perception. It’s because we are all humans showing that we stand together on this war vs. humanity.
I’m sure when those whose profile picture now features the France national flag made the change they weren’t thinking about how their 20-year-old crush would just totally love them for being so “trendy” and caring.
They were thinking about lives that were lost that did not need to be lost. Children who lost parents, wives that lost husbands, friends that lost friends.
It’s your choice to change your profile picture and if you didn’t, that doesn’t make you a bad person or less supportive of humanity. Just don’t judge others for it because chances are the intention came from the right place.
UMass Journalism 300 