Breastfeeding Photos Banned From Social Nework Site

By MommyNews, on January 7th, 2009

So with the new year comes new rules at the famous social networking site, Facebook. You know what I’m referring to- the banning of breastfeeding images. If you haven’t heard the news take a moment to visit your favorite internet search engine and search for the terms “facebook bans breastfeeding images”. You will get a slew of blog posts, protest groups, and even some main stream news sites with their own opinions on the topic.

Of course, Mommy News Blog is PRO breastfeeding. It’s our main mission in life- to assist and educate. We even share some beautiful images of mothers doing what is natural and intended by nature.

I’m asking my readers- tell me – what are your thoughts on the ban? Can you see both sides of the picture- are there two sides? Have you felt the effects of this ban?

Feel free to be open and honest in your comments and if you wish to remain anonymous please do not put your real name in the name box.

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Reiza

January 8, 2009 at 9:50 am

I think it’s absolutely insane. I saw the original offending photograph and there was nothing explicit about it at all.

I know complaints were filed during the virtual nurse-in last month, but I also know that some of the pictures that were reported and taken down were marked as “friends only” and were only posted on the person’s profile and in the nurse-in stream. So whoever reported them had to actually go looking for them.

Some of the photos taken down (not the ones I referred to above) were actually photos from different “board of health” type organizations in different countries. I know one was from Brazil (and it was a gorgeous shot, but the woman wasn’t actually nursing the baby and mom was completely naked).

Sheryl

January 8, 2009 at 4:21 pm

I don’t know what to think about this. I have gotten professional nursing photos with my last two children. I think they are beautiful and will cherish them forever. But I don’t put them on my blog and I wouldn’t put them on face book. That being said, I don’t think there is anything wrong with a woman posting her own pictures especially if you have t be a “friend” to view it. I think if the pictures offend you, don’t look at them, read those blogs, visit those people on face book, ect.

TechyDad

January 9, 2009 at 9:50 am

I actually just posted a (rather long) analysis of the situation from a Dad’s perspective ( http://www.techydad.com/?p=286 ). My conclusion, after doing a lot of research, is that Facebook’s TOS bans any content that is “obscene, pornographic or sexually explicit.” Breasts fit into this category in some contexts, but not every context.

If a woman was in a “seductive pose” with her breasts showing, it would clearly be sexually explicit or pornographic and I would have no problem supporting Facebook removing those photos. However, a woman nursing her child (like the photos above show) is not obscene, pornographic and certainly not sexually explicit. In fact, you can see more breast on some “barely there” bikini photos than on those nursing photos. To define “obscene, pornographic or sexually explicit” the way they have shows a complete lack of understanding of context by Facebook.

Amy Farr

January 9, 2009 at 6:15 pm

I personally don’t have any pictures of me nursing my kids but I have a few shots I would like to have before my breastfeeding relationship is over but I really don’t think I would use them as my profile pictures. I don’t see anything wrong with people using them but I probably wouldn’t. I may post them in an album on facebook since I have many breastfeeding friends that would get a huge kick out of them. How anyone can few them as obscene I’ll never understand.

Gina from Queen Rabbit's Realm

January 17, 2009 at 10:44 pm

I find it hurtful because I don’t see anything wrong with BFing at all. I don’t have BF pics on FB or MS but that is my choice. I really can’t see a point to it. I have never heard of teen boys looking for nursing pics to get their jollies.