Apparently Facebook has banned a picture of Marilyn McKenna’s extra-large pants next to her extra fit body. Certainly that has many wondering what the big deal is. After the recent holiday season involving having to endure a flood of Facebook-related “Elf on the Shelf” pictures of the mischievous elf placed in compromising situations, the “pants scandal” seems like a double standard — and pales in comparison.
According to Facebook the “pants” photo was an issue because McKenna was trying to sell something and ‘Facebook’s terms require advertisers of weight loss and other adult products limit the audience of their ads to people aged 18 and over,’ said the spokesperson. There’s also mention that McKenna heard from Facebook that she was promoting an idealized body image.
McKenna might have gotten into trouble when she opted to promote the photo which Facebook considered an ad. McKenna she says she’s not selling anything. But McKenna has a separate website where she writes about weights loss, healthy eating, and healthy lifestyles. Every web publisher knows that social media is a valuable method of pre-sales information.
Time will tell if this is some sinister revelation of Facebook’s manipulation of commercialism and Freedom of Speech, or if the cause of the pants scandal is just some robotic employee that projected their own issues into the mix. At best it could only be a “noble” attempt by Facebook to decide what photos might induce a vulnerable person into an eating disorder, for example.
Photo that Facebook wouldn't let @mckennamarilyn post. Full story at 10/11 via @JLangelerKING5 – pic.twitter.com/UHzSMtVSgL
— KING 5 News (@KING5Seattle) January 10, 2014
The @KING5Seattle story about my Facebook "scandal." Good grief, does FB have nothing better to do? http://t.co/l682jt2tpj @JLangelerKING5
— Marilyn McKenna (@mckennamarilyn) January 10, 2014
Another example why I love @mckennamarilyn! Another tenacious woman…..Facebook will regret this day. #facebookcensorship
— Alyson Freeman (@FreemanAlyson) January 10, 2014
See also …
marilynmckenna.com