Newslog #3

The Facebook ‘I Like It On’ Meme: Does It Really Help Fight Cancer?

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2010/10/06/the-facebook-i-like-it-on-meme-does-it-really-help-fight-cancer/


There's a good chance that within the past few days, one of your Facebook friends has made their status "I like it on" followed by a location. Even though it sounds sexual, this statement actually has nothing to do with that. It is actually a Breast Cancer awareness status, in which the disease is being honored throughout the whole month of October. The 'it' in the status refers to where women leave their purses when they get home. The message is supposed to "unite" women, but it is causing a controversy. First, many people, especially men, do not know the meaning behind this status and automatically think of it as being sexual. Also, many argue that there has never been a sexual innuendo status for any other type disease, so why does Breast Cancer have to be the chosen one?

I know no harm is intended in this status, but I don't think that a sexual innuendo should symbolize Breast Cancer. This disease is life threatening and making innuendos is not helping the spread of awareness. This is partly due to the fact that many Facebook users do not even know that it is about Breast Cancer. Although a status regarding Breast Cancer awareness is an honorable thing to do, making it sound sexual defeats the purpose.