Clearly the clever young men behind the social networking juggernaut Facebook didn't know about moms. Especially lactating moms. Anger them at your peril.According to an Australian paper, Facebook has recently removed photos of nursing mothers from members' homepages and banned all photos of breast feeding where the breast is even slightly showing.
As any mother could have told them, that was like pouring gasoline on a fire. Now, thousands of Facebook users are on a rampage. A Facebook group called "Hey Facebook, Breastfeeding is not Obscene" (a real mouthful, that) already has nearly 20,000 members, with more joining every day.
According to the article, spokeswoman Meredith Chin said Facebook, with some 31 million users worldwide, did not prevent mothers from uploading photos of themselves breastfeeding their babies, but it did remove content that was reported as violating Facebook's terms of use.
"Photos containing an exposed breast do violate our Terms and are removed," she said.
No word yet on how much baby there has to be covering said breast. But if the bikini-clad girls in some of the ads on the network are any guide, not very much.
As the furor grows, Facebook might want to take a page from Mattel Inc's (NYSE: MAT) playbook: Never underestimate the wrath of moms.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
9-13-2007 @ 10:43PM
felix2321 said...
I think that was a great call on FaceBooks behalf. If you give people inches they will take miles, and Myspace.com is the perfect example! That website is a rest haven for sluts, hookers, etc. If you see the pictures posted on that site it would definitely make the pope and many parents of teenagers turn red or purple in the face. I'm glad that there is a company out there that understands that all business isn't good business and knows when to kick it to the curb. Good job facebook. Maintain your websites integrity!
9-14-2007 @ 4:46AM
Steve Shackelford said...
I have no idea why mothers think it should be acceptable to breastfeed in public. I see it as any other bodily function that I don't want to see. - Steve http://www.goofygrouch.com
9-14-2007 @ 1:37PM
Jeff said...
haha yea, everyone is furious about not seeing BREAST feeding pics.
9-14-2007 @ 1:40PM
Sarah MF Lee said...
Whether men want to accept it BREASTS were MADE to feed children not for a man's pleasure! I don’t think it is a choice that mother's have, if your child is hungry then you need to whip it out and feed the lil one. It is a beautiful thing that a mother can nourish her child from her breast. It should not be looked upon as something sexual or hidden because of close minded people that can’t handle seeing some skin. WTF it’s to feed a hungry child, grow the hell up and get over it. If you don’t want to see it then you should turn the hell around and not look. When my son is born and he gets hungry you best believe that no matter where I am my first concern is to feed him and make sure he is taken care of. If people now ah days cant accept seeing a mother feed her child but can accept commercials with woman half naked prancing around then there is something seriously wrong with that. EFFING IDIOTS!
9-14-2007 @ 3:22PM
sthrnlady75 said...
Hey Felix???!!! whats the url for your myspace account??? As far as facebook goes on banning those pics is just another form of censorship its an natural part of a womans body.Those pics are definatley better than most of the adds in todays magazines or on tv and in the media in general. An intelligent person would be able to see the difference.
9-14-2007 @ 4:58PM
Paige said...
Why would you put up a picture of yourself breast feeding anyway?
9-14-2007 @ 6:34PM
Ariel said...
Paige wrote: "Why would you put up a picture of yourself breast feeding anyway?"
Yes, why would you? But to add to the "not-an-obscenity" consensus, look at the recent national campaign by the medical profession to encourage mothers to breast feed. How will that happen if society discourages them in so many ways? F.T.A.
9-14-2007 @ 8:41PM
lynn barrenger said...
If you must feed your child breast milk, pump it out and put it in a bottle Idiot!!
9-14-2007 @ 9:01PM
Julie said...
There is no reason on earth why any woman would need to post a picture of herself breastfeeding unless it was for some kinky solicitation. They had every right to remove the pics!WTG!
9-14-2007 @ 9:40PM
Michele said...
True, there's no legitimate reason for a breastfeeding mother to flaunt her pic online. But neither is there legitimacy in half-dressed wannabe sluts doing so, either, and where is the call to arms to remove these pictures from magazines and websites?
9-14-2007 @ 10:54PM
Joe said...
The female breasts help men and women in the reproductive process. Breasts provide arousal and stimulation for both sexes. Once born, babies utilize the feeding function of the female breasts for nurishment and to learn even in infancy the reproductive process. Mothers benefit from the nuturing of their infants in numerous bonding experiences. Fathers are able to observe the miracle of this bonding, fostering respect for mother and child and cherishing the cycle of human reproduction and human bonding. Yes, I am a male who was breastfeed.
9-14-2007 @ 11:45PM
aimee said...
ugh here come the tit nazis.... behold the power of lactating bitches
9-15-2007 @ 12:06AM
Jeanette1417 said...
Sure, breastfeeding is a wonderful thing...but use some common sense, people! Why would someone post something so personal on the internet for any pervert to see? Heck, I don't even post pics of my children because I don't know who is looking at them.
And yes, breastfeeding is natural, not comparing to to going to the bathroom (which I am sure NO ONE would want to see pics of that) but it is just one of those private moments you should keep to yourself and/or close friends and not post it on some site.
9-15-2007 @ 1:27AM
Jennifer said...
Breastfeeding is a beautiful act and should not be discouraged. MEN NEED TO GROW UP! Babies were meant to be breastfed. Do you think when God put women on this earth he gave them a cow and a baby bottle?!!! HELLO! MEN MADE BOTTLES because they are way too insecure! If they are going to take pics of breastfeeding women off these sites they also need to take off the pictuers of 14 year old girls that think they are 25.
9-15-2007 @ 10:14AM
pattyb said...
theres nothing wrong with breast feeding. there is nothing wrong with urinating and taking a crap. There is nothing wrong with masturbating. I think its a matter of the appropriate time and place to take care of those bodily functions. I wouldnt squat and take a piss in the middle of a restaurant. why would I whip out a tit to breastfeed in one? conversely, would I post a picture of myself taking a crap on the internet? no (although I am sure some people have). Personally I think breast feeding ought to be a private thing. Once,when I worked at a bar, a pregnant woman came in and showed off her breastmilk by whipping out her tit and spraying it all over the bar. it was pretty gross.
9-15-2007 @ 1:16PM
starz said...
look to be honest i think its retarded to put up pics of yourself breastfeeding your child but at the same time i dont want to see pics of my sister in her stripper outfit on myspace neither, but hey we live in a FREE COUNTRY able to post whatever you want. so i dont complain either. thats why we are able to make porn webites and shit. if they ban this how long before they ban that? then people are gonna complain cause thats gone. i posted up a pic of my tat on my rigt shoulder im not showing anything but people complained i wasnt wearing anything so i was asked to take it down...but i havent cause its AMERICA THE LAND OF THE FREE so if you wanna post up pics like that then go ahead its their right to.
9-15-2007 @ 1:40PM
jabb5076 said...
Although they are all bodily functions, anyone who equates breastfeeding an infant with urinating and defecating has serious psychological issues that would best be dealt with through some serious therapy!
9-15-2007 @ 1:44PM
jabb5076 said...
Although they are all bodily functions, anyone who equates breastfeeding an infant with urinating and defecating has serious psychological issues that would best be dealt with through some intense therapy!
9-15-2007 @ 3:19PM
Tom B said...
Absurd, considering topless beaches are normal in most countries.
9-15-2007 @ 3:20PM
Gertie said...
come on people dont let the right wing nutcases win!!!!! Facebook outta back down on that issue there is NOTHING wrong with breast feeding or showing pics of it!