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Thousands are signing a petition to ban this Facebook emoji
FACEBOOK USERS ARE asking the social network to remove a ‘fat’ emoji from their list of emotions, arguing that it is not a feeling and is ‘making fun’ of people who are overweight.
Users can currently opt to say they are ‘feeling fat’ in status updates, which is listed among options such as happy, sad, tired and amused.
A change.org petition has been set up to ban the little rounded smilie, which is the same used to illustrate feeling ‘full’.
Change.org Change.org
Catherine Weingarten set up the petition when she noticed a friend changed her status to the emoticon. She explained “I think it was supposed to be funny, but seeing this status made me feel angry”.
The petition has received 12,654 signatures so far.
It coincides with National Eating Disorders Awareness Week and Weingarten is now working on the campaign with Endangered Bodies, a body positive initiative which also has an Irish branch. They have campaigned against Photoshopping in women’s magazines in the past, using Instagram and Twitter to launch viral campaigns.
EndangeredBodies EndangeredBodies
The movement has also made its way to Twitter, with campaigners using the hashtag #FatIsNotAFeeling.
A spokesperson for Facebook told the Daily Star that:
What do you think? Should it be banned?
Poll Results:
Facebook’s ‘related’ algorithm made quite a serious slip up today>
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