On facebook people changing profiles to have colors of France's flag

[EasterJoy]

who’s saying we’re NOT praying for them or helping them in other ways?

Did you read the research?

Our research shows that if people are able to declare support for a charity publicly in social media it can actually make them less likely to donate to the cause later on.

In other words, when people make gestures like this on social media it actually makes them less likely to offer concrete help, not more likely. Encouraging someone to make this kind of gesture is actually encouraging him or her to do something unsubstantial that will at the same time lower the likelihood that he or she will also offer substantial help.

Unfortunately, then, when you say “Of course we’re not that naïve,” you are only speaking for yourself.

We can only hope that the “rainbow flag” social media blitz made that utterly misguided movement more impotent. That would be a good thing.

 

[ameliepoir]

Did you read the research?

Our research shows that if people are able to declare support for a charity publicly in social media it can actually make them less likely to donate to the cause later on.

In other words, when people make gestures like this on social media it actually makes them less likely to offer concrete help, not more likely. Encouraging someone to make this kind of gesture is actually encouraging him or her to do something unsubstantial that will at the same time lower the likelihood that he or she will also offer substantial help.

Unfortunately, then, when you say “Of course we’re not that naïve,” you are only speaking for yourself.

We can only hope that the “rainbow flag” social media blitz made that utterly misguided movement more impotent. That would be a good thing.

I understand and completely agree with the criticism of slacktivism, but I don’t agree that it’s relevant in this instance. What’s the truly worthy cause here? What sort of resources should I be devoting to France, Paris, or the victims more specifically? I don’t think they need my money to rebuild (it would be different if we were talking about people posting on social media instead of giving money to victims of the earthquake in Haiti, for example). I’ve read that lots of people have donated blood to help the injured, but that they still needed more donors. Unfortunately I can’t help with that over here in the states. What I can do is pray and combat hatred/fear with love shown through small gestures. Reaching out to Parisian friends, laying flowers at the embassy, posting a message of support on social media. These gestures don’t distract or discourage more “meaningful” or “effective” behaviors because nothing else is needed.

 

[Vanny]

Research, however, shows social media trends like embracing Facebook’s French flag profile picture can have damaging effects on giving. In a phenomenon researchers have dubbed "slacktivism," a study from the University of British Columbia revealed that posting support online enables people to associate with causes but makes them less likely to commit any resources to them.

ibtimes.com/facebook-french-flag-why-you-shouldnt-change-your-profile-picture-support-paris-2187416

news.ubc.ca/2013/11/08/slacktivism-liking-on-facebook-may-mean-less-giving/

Pray for them, send money to some charity that is doing work among those affected, but don’t fool yourself into thinking that changing your personal never-to-be-seen-by-a-Parisian Facebook page is going to do anything more than calling your fries “Freedom Fries” ever did. It is not just that it is pointless. If it were only pointless, then it would be fine to do it if you were so inclined. No, if you convince others to think this way you may actually be encouraging less meaningful action rather than more. That is a bad thing that feels like a good thing, not just a pointless thing.

and they know this How?? Are they looking at my facebook profile and then matching it with whatever donations I may or may not have made.
Sounds like a sweeping generalization to me. How do they know who has prayed or donated or has not?
I’d like to see detailed studies on the subject that liking on FB means less donating.
Yes I think that putting a flag on my facebook profile is going to solve the whole problem(sarcasm) How do people seem to presume what I’m thinking or doing?
I could give a rats patoot whether someone superimposes the profile on their account or not.
I did it as a way of showing solidarity after the attacks I never dreamed that that was going to cover the whole problem! Of course I’m not that naïve!

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Thank you. I have put the flag on my profile temporarily to show support and solidarity for what the French have gone through the last few days.
If you put the rainbow flag on your profile, was that meaningless??

Do you know a lot of the victims?

 

[Vanny]

Do you know a lot of the victims?

No but why should I have to?

BTW regular blood donor here,
donate to church and parachurch organizations.
Don’t see why you would have to know the victims to want to show support.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

No but why should I have to?

BTW regular blood donor here,
donate to church and parachurch organizations.
Don’t see why you would have to know the victims to wantto show support.

Donating blood actually does something. I assume that there are various flags on your profile for other tragedies right? Like the Iraqi flag, an Israeli one, perhaps a Chinese flag? How is this gesture meaningful? What does it do for the victims? I mean you get something out of it right? But what of the victims? What do they benifit?

 

[Vanny]

Donating blood actually does something. I assume that there are various flags on your profile for other tragedies right? Like the Iraqi flag, an Israeli one, perhaps a Chinese flag? How is this gesture meaningful? What does it do for the victims? I mean you get something out of it right? But what of the victims? What do they benifit?

Don’t recall FB offering profile flags for those countries-I didn’t don the rainbow flag because I believe marriage is between one man and one woman-I don’t support same sex marriage.
If one of those countries you mentioned had a tragedy and FB offered a temporary profile flag I would consider it, depending on the circumstances.

I don’t see what the Big dust-up here is about.
What is the big deal about someone temporarily showing support for what happened in France?
And as far as the articles posted I repeat- where do they get their information? How do they know whether Jane or John Doe donates or gets involved or not?
Did they do a telephone survey or check people’s finances?
How did they arrive at: Someone hit’s like or dons a profile flag on FB(which the the first one I’ve ever seen offered) means they don’'t do anything else to help the cause_like donate real time or money or whatever? I just don’t understand how they arrive at that.
It seems a long term study would have to be done to determine that.

 

[pensmama87]

People have worn armbands, displayed flags, etc. to show sympathy or alliance with various causes forever. The use of Facebook to do so isn’t much different.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Don’t recall FB offering profile flags for those countries-I didn’t don the rainbow flag because I believe marriage is between one man and one woman-I don’t support same sex marriage.
If one of those countries you mentioned had a tragedy and FB offered a temporary profile flag I would consider it, depending on the circumstances.

I don’t see what the Big dust-up here is about.
What is the big deal about someone temporarily showing support for what happened in France?
And as far as the articles posted I repeat- where do they get their information? How do they know whether Jane or John Doe donates or gets involved or not?
Did they do a telephone survey or check people’s finances?
How did they arrive at: Someone hit’s like or dons a profile flag on FB(which the the first one I’ve ever seen offered) means they don’'t do anything else to help the cause_like donate real time or money or whatever? I just don’t understand how they arrive at that.
It seems a long term study would have to be done to determine that.

Interesting. So Facebook dictates which causes you can “support”. That is very odd. I admittedly don’t have Facebook so I was unaware of this. But it only serves to show just how meaningless it is doesn’t it?

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

People have worn armbands, displayed flags, etc. to show sympathy or alliance with various causes forever. The use of Facebook to do so isn’t much different.

Right. People breaking their arms to pat their back is not a new aspect of human nature. Personally I prefer prayers and mass intentions but that is just the Catholic in me….

Livestrong certainly blew up but then again so did wwjd bracelets…

To me it is a tad more tacky and meaningless than a tolerance bumper sticker …

 

[UbiCaritas]

Interesting. So Facebook dictates which causes you can “support”. That is very odd. I admittedly don’t have Facebook so I was unaware of this. But it only serves to show just how meaningless it is doesn’t it?

Sort of. From what I understand (for the record, my opinion of the whole change-your-profile-picture-to-support-X thing is “meh, whatevs, don’t see much of a point” so I haven’t ever done it), Facebook sometimes offers to overlay your profile photo with other images, like the French flag. However, there are also apps out there that you can use to do the same thing with whatever flag or image you want, and (assuming it’s not outrageously X-rated) Facebook won’t have a problem with it. Of course, that’s a little more time-consuming than clicking once on a Facebook link to overlay with the image du jour–in this case, the French flag.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

So Facebook would not offer the superimposition of a Mexican flag or a Chinese flag?

 

[Vanny]

Interesting. So Facebook dictates which causes you can “support”. That is very odd. I admittedly don’t have Facebook so I was unaware of this. But it only serves to show just how meaningless it is doesn’t it?

Apparently.
However, these French flag profiles are only temporary.
I feel bad for the French people,.
Outside of donating blood or donating money if a legitimate avenue showed up I can’t do much else. Can’t go over there, right now. Not saying donning a profile flag will do anything.
As far as clicking “like” only do that when I see people posting thing or pictures that I look. Doesn’t have much to do with causes.
I don’t even care much for FB, really. Only joined to moniter my teens about 5 years ago and to share photos with distant friends and relatives.
And it’s much easier to share photos that way than the old fashioned way.
My oldest son even deleted his account for awhile, he got so much negative feedback from some people regarding the same sex marriage issue(he’s against it-most of his friends are for it)

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Sort of. From what I understand (for the record, my opinion of the whole change-your-profile-picture-to-support-X thing is “meh, whatevs, don’t see much of a point” so I haven’t ever done it), Facebook sometimes offers to overlay your profile photo with other images, like the French flag. However, there are also apps out there that you can use to do the same thing with whatever flag or image you want, and (assuming it’s not outrageously X-rated) Facebook won’t have a problem with it. Of course, that’s a little more time-consuming than clicking once on a Facebook link to overlay with the image du jour–in this case, the French flag.

So you could do it with the app? Then I fully expect the next time 200 people die in a country or from a violent act for there to be the same people with whatever flag is the flavor of the week “helping” the victims.

To me this is just the mob mentality of social media these days. Trayvon Martin gay marriage earthday and France aside it really just boils down to peer pressure and the stroking of egos…

Sorry for the bluntness I just cannot get over the silliness and futilness of it all

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Do I assume that a flag on a page means the person is calling congress to urge air strikes in Syria? Or is in favor of closed and secure boarders in all countries and will vote accordingly? Or is a staunch opponent of Islam?

Or is it just a meaningless gesture to present oneself as socially aware of the news of the week?

 

[Bruised_Reed]

Sort of. From what I understand (for the record, my opinion of the whole change-your-profile-picture-to-support-X thing is “meh, whatevs, don’t see much of a point” so I haven’t ever done it), Facebook sometimes offers to overlay your profile photo with other images, like the French flag. However, there are also apps out there that you can use to do the same thing with whatever flag or image you want, and (assuming it’s not outrageously X-rated) Facebook won’t have a problem with it. Of course, that’s a little more time-consuming than clicking once on a Facebook link to overlay with the image du jour–in this case, the French flag.

Twibbon is once of the apps. It’s UK based so a lot of the twibbons are for UK organizations but not all. I can also have layer more than one twibbon.

So Facebook would not offer the superimposition of a Mexican flag or a Chinese flag?

With Twibbon a user can create there own and share it with others. And it can be used for both Twitter and Facebook profiles. I just checked and there are 38 Catholic twibbons. They aren’t as nice as the flags on Facebook because the Facebook one is is a sheer overlay over one’s profile pic so I can still see a person’s face it just has the flag superimposed over it. A lot of them are solid and changes or completely obscures one’s profile pic.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

Do I assume that a flag on a page means the person is calling congress to urge air strikes in Syria? Or is in favor of closed and secure boarders in all countries and will vote accordingly? Or is a staunch opponent of Islam?

Or is it just a meaningless gesture to present oneself as socially aware of the news of the week?

One can look at the user’s status updates to get an idea of where they stand.

Again, atheists think your prayers are a meaningless gesture, too.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Apparently.
However, these French flag profiles are only temporary.
I feel bad for the French people,.
Outside of donating blood or donating money if a legitimate avenue showed up I can’t do much else. Can’t go over there, right now. Not saying donning a profile flag will do anything.
As far as clicking “like” only do that when I see people posting thing or pictures that I look. Doesn’t have much to do with causes.
I don’t even care much for FB, really. Only joined to moniter my teens about 5 years ago and to share photos with distant friends and relatives.
And it’s much easier to share photos that way than the old fashioned way.
My oldest son even deleted his account for awhile, he got so much negative feedback from some people regarding the same sex marriage issue(he’s against it-most of his friends are for it)

I’m sure prayers (even if a Lutheran) are more meaningful than a flag or frankly even blood. You know fasting could be a great form of solidarity and no one would even have to know. Something about a father who sees what is done in secret or the prayers of a righteous man. Or is the bible too outdated for today’s tragedies…

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

One can look at the user’s status updates to get an idea of where they stand.

Again, atheists think your prayers are a meaningless gesture, too.

What one thinks is true hasn’t bearing on its truth…

You should know that…

 

[UbiCaritas]

So you could do it with the app? Then I fully expect the next time 200 people die in a country or from a violent act for there to be the same people with whatever flag is the flavor of the week “helping” the victims.

To me this is just the mob mentality of social media these days. Trayvon Martin gay marriage earthday and France aside it really just boils down to peer pressure and the stroking of egos…

Sorry for the bluntness I just cannot get over the silliness and futilness of it all

Eh, I probably am more inclined to your point of view, though I suppose I don’t pay it that much thought. I tend to figure that while I think it rather silly, the people doing it probably mean well, and it’s not hurting anything for them to do it. I agree that it’s partly a matter of it being made that easy to do. (That, and Paris is, of course, much sexier than rural Mexicans being murdered by drug cartels. )