Facebook is to drop the status update that allows users to say they are feeling fat.
The world’s biggest social network is to remove the “I feel fat” status option and emojis from all versions of Facebook at the request of the #fatisnotafeeling campaign.
Endangered Bodies, which operates globally and has a strong presence in Ireland, where it works to combat negative body image and stereotyping, asked Facebook to “stop encouraging negative body image among girls”.
More than 16,000 people signed a petition on change.org which was started by Catherine Weingarten.
“As someone who has struggled with, and overcome, disordered eating, I know what it’s like to ‘feel’ fat. I have spent years of my life consumed with negative thoughts about my body, and far too many days starving myself in an effort to lose weight,” Ms Weingarten wrote on the website.
“Fat is not a feeling. Fat is a natural part of our bodies, no matter their weight. And all bodies deserve to be respected and cared for.”
‘Stuffed’
Facebook has announced it is removing the “fat” status update and replacing it with one that says “stuffed”, which will appear alongside the same chubby-cheeked emoji.
“We’ve heard from our community that listing ‘feeling fat’ as an option for status updates could reinforce negative body image, particularly for people struggling with eating disorders.
“So we’re going to remove ‘feeling fat’ from the list of options. We’ll continue to listen to feedback as we think about ways to help people express themselves on Facebook,” a spokesperson for the social network said.
Deirdre Cowman, psychologist and founder of Endangered Bodies Ireland, said she was delighted.
“We’re absolutely thrilled. It is great that an online campaign can have an effect on a massive organisation like Facebook.”
Ms Cowman said that the company had also said “they are open to further dialogue”.
“It is a significant step. Social media is so big and so significant. Research shows, for example, that people who spend a lot of time on Facebook have more issues around body image.”
Ms Cowman said that these issues affected everybody, regardless of gender, and more and more young men are being affected.
