Following the terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday, Facebook introduced a ‘tragedy feature’, allowing users to add a filter of the French flag onto their profile picture. Many chose to do so, however others were outraged at what people are calling ‘selective humanity’, criticizing the lack of attention paid to other countries, namely Lebanon where suicide bombings in Beirut killed 43 people. Another issue which was raised was how appropriate the filter, a reminder of the 129 people who died, is when used on the modern day equivalent of a good first impression, smiles and all. Or is it simply an expression of solidarity with the French people after such a horrific act of violence?
Anita De Silva
When you think of social media as powerful tool of the people, a medium to bring to public view issues which are otherwise cast aside, changing your profile picture on a Facebook recommendation seems like a waste of an opportunity. Lives were lost in France and in many places all over the world. We are letting social media limit the empathy and grief we feel for lives lost, or at the very least, we are letting them limit how we present our grief to the rest of the world.
Nevanka Jayatilleke
Changing your profile picture with the temporary French flag filter is in my opinion, a show of solidarity and nothing more. The attack on Paris and the people of France does not detract from the violence in other parts of the world. But if an argument arises regarding the hypocrisy of Western media and, as a protest, refuse to and jeer those who do filter their profile pictures, then you are objectifying human life. Do other lives matter? Yes. Is France being given more media attention than the multitude of other terrorized countries? Yes. Does that justify a refusal to stand with France, on grounds of 'fairness'? No.
Nuha Fayaz
I can understand the premise that the France filter represents one's support for the French people and I appreciate Facebook's intentions. Beyond the issue that people are also using this "recommended" filter not only to support but to gain attention by following a trend, there is the problem of Facebook's bias in only having a French flag. Their choice of selective humanity reflects badly on them as there are other countries that have been or are under crisis due to terrorism; yet there was no representation for them. On that note, I think there should be a general symbol to represent your stance against terrorism.
Praveena Yogendra
As much as I do understand that changing one's profile picture to French flag colors does not help the affected in a tangible way, I feel that it is a beautiful way of showing that our thoughts and prayers are with Paris.
Thilina Panduwawala
For someone whose first act of the morning is to read the news, seeing bombs blasts and dead civilians has become almost routine. From Beirut to Bali its an everyday occurrence. But when the attacks in Paris received such widespread attention when the whole world decided to ignore the bombs in Beirut and Ankara before it, I was annoyed. The French flag overlays for the profile picture only made it worse. But now that the precedent is set Facebook could have the feature when ever a terror attack occurs in any country. It shouldn't be a feature present because of the market because it only reinforces the idea that Western tragedies are grieved more.
By Upeksha Hettiarachchi
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