Human Rights Online Philippines

Facebook profile pics go ‘desap’ for Int’l Day of the Disappeared
Posted on August 30 by Joseph Holandes Ubalde, InterAksyon.com

MANILA, Philippines—If you open your Facebook and see that your friends’ profile pictures have gone missing, don’t worry: this is just the latest Internet meme that has spread like wildfire throughout the popular social networking site among Filipino users commemorating the International Day of the Disappeared on Tuesday.

“In remembrance of the disappeared in the Philippines and around the world, whose lives, rights and freedoms were taken, please take down your profile picture on August 30,” read the status message posted by Facebook users.

So far, most of the Facebook participants are Filipino activists, students and media persons who have joined the meme not only to heighten awareness about those who disappeared, but also to trumpet calls for justice.

Like most memes, it is unclear who initiated the Facebook campaign. A meme is a concept or idea that spreads through writing, speech, gestures, rituals or other imitable phenomena. Internet memes are seen as cost-effective advertising or PR tools to push for buzz around a certain product or concept.

Read full article @ www.interaksyon.com

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