Facebook Deems Photos of Woman‘s Mastectomy Scar ’Pornographic’ and Removes Them
- Posted on May 22, 2012 at 9:00pm by
Liz Klimas
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In recent weeks, Facebook has accidentally banned photos that it shouldn’t have according to its photo policy. The first were photos of a boy with Down’s syndrome at the Special Olympics. Next, the social networking site blocked a photo of parents and a baby born with a disfiguring birth defect who later died. In both these instances, Facebook said it was an error and apologized.
Here is a new situation: a cancer survivor posted photos of her chest, revealing where her breast had been removed through a mastectomy. Facebook says it allows mastectomy photos but the ones posted by a British woman still were considered in violation of its graphic content policy.
The Huddersfield Daily Examiner calls the pictures images of “courage and strength.” While many may agree, Facebook considered some of the 40-year-old U.K. woman’s photos as too explicit ,and promptly blocked them from the social media site.
Joanne Jackson's tweet after finding out she was blocked on Facebook. (Image:@thornhillSW/Twitter)
The Huddersfield Daily Examiner reports Joanne Jackson was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2011 after she had lost a lot of weight and found a lump. In honor of beating the disease — despite losing her breast — Jackson had a photographer take photos of her essentially topless, showing her surgical scar but covering her other breast, which remained in tact.
Needless to say, Jackson is not happy. The Huddersfield Daily Examiner has her reaction:
“There is nothing pornographic or explicit about these pictures. That was not the idea at all,” said Joanne, a former Kirklees Council youth worker.
“I took breast cancer and the mastectomy in my stride and decided it wasn’t going to stop me living my life. It wasn’t going to define who I was, and it didn’t make me any less attractive as a woman.
“My attitude was to just get on with it. I knew I could kick cancer’s a** and I did.”
According to Facebook’s photo policy, any depictions of sexual activity (even if covered up), naked private parts and babies breast feeding are not allowed on the site. In 2009, Facebook took down a woman’s mastectomy picture but later apologized and reinstated her right to post photos of the scar. The Daily Mail reports a Facebook spokesperson saying the site still allows mastectomy pictures, but some of the images posted by Jackson still violated the company’s policy. Jackson said she is not backing down. See more images from Jackson’s photoshoot here.
(Related: Ever wonder why something gets banned on Facebook? Here’s the answer)
The Daily Mail also notes one of Jackson‘s nurses as saying if she hadn’t lost as much weight as she did — from a size 22 to 10 — she may not have found the cancer in time to have had such a positive outcome.
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TXVET48
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 4:59pmGlad she beat the big “C” but didn’t need to see the landscape. The smile on her face would have been enough.
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 3:17pmI got a facebook account a few years ago and then never went back to it. It just seems like a waste of time.
Report Post »De-Elect
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 6:50amI removed myself from facebook. Some of my friends were shocked or offended and some told me it was about time. I prefer a few good friends along with privacy. Facebook has a tyrannical attitude.
Report Post »starman70
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 11:08amI never joined it. Now I’m glad I never did. They are becoming a bunch of Mamby – Pamby ********.
Report Post »miketype1each
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 1:37amFacebook has gone corporate, so what else did anyone expect? It’s the way of corporations, just like Safeway, when they fired an employee for coming to the aid of a pregnant woman getting a beatdown from her jackleg boyfriend.
I’m no Occupier, but the corporate mindset really doesn’t do the individual much good, does it? When you take a hard look at corporations, they’re really virtual states with armies of lobbyists to get all they can without paying a dime in return.
Report Post »Melika
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 6:39amYou sure do sound like an Occupier. What on Earth does this story have to do with corporations in general? Considering that this type of thing has been going on long before FB went public, I don’t see how your comment is accurate.
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 1:17amFacebook stock is doomed anyway. What idiot bought that stuff? 90% of the ‘users’ never go on anyway. Something else will come along and snuff them. It’s good for looking up old friends but 98% of them don’t have an account. Others (like myself) simply use an alias to do that. It’s way overrated as a business model.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 10:57pmI had no problem with the mother who showed her child with a birth defect, but I don‘t want to see some woman’s masectomy scar. I understand her wanting to share to the world her story, but leave the scar picture out. All the other pictures on the other site were fine. Have some couth.
Report Post »moussiagilda
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 10:10pmThe fact that she had to cut off her breast is grotesque and pornographic. How much radiation did she receive during “treatment.”
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 3:16pmAre you insane? How is getting a mastecomy pornographic?
Report Post »BenInNY
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 9:50pmYet I’ll bet you can find the Marilyn Manson – Mechanical Animals cover in multiple places on facebook.
Report Post »This one: http://25.media.tumblr.com/OuWxlMqQpq3hl35bneC3eMpSo1_500.jpg
TJexcite
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 9:33pmWould one walk thought the mall shirtless to show your scar, why put it on the internet for millions to see. Just because you can, does not mean you should. Same with the kid photos. The parents would have a fit if someone physically stopped them at the mall and laughed at them. But when they put a photo on the internet, people laugh and them for years in the privacy of their own home. Whole website have nothing but fail photos that people share and laugh at the misfortunes of others. In due time this photo will end up there and be the but of many of jokes, maybe even a meme that creates hundreds Photoshopped breast less people. And her real message of strength after adversity is gone to a fail and then nothing.
If you will not do it in public do not put a picture of it on the internet.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 9:24pmBehind FB… are Socialists & Fascists, Radicals & Revolutionaries… so, beware of their Stock!
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 9:23pmWho gives a ****. If you don‘t like their policies then don’t use their site.
Report Post »TheEDGE
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 9:13pmKeep it to yourself lady. Does any one do that anymore?
Report Post »mharry860
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 9:36pmApparently not, it doesn’t look like she lost much anyway. I hope that’s not too cold, just an observation.
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