If you’ve opened Facebook in the last week, chances are you would’ve been greeted by at least a handful of your female (and maybe a few of your pro-active male) friends displaying their make-up free faces in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. The concept behind the No Makeup Selfie is that it is meant to challenge women to display their natural beauty in a campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer. But in true social media style, the campaign was not actually started by any authorised Cancer Awareness Council, with Cancer Research UK admitting the trend started with one of their employees posting a selfie on their personal profile but reinforcing that it was not actually initiated by them.
The trend actually started with an innocent hashtag on Twitter and grew from there. Cancer Research UK identified it as a massive talking point and an excellent opportunity to raise awareness and encouraged their staff members to jump on board and post a no make-up selfie in support.
We’re loving your #cancerawareness #nomakeupselfie pics! The campaign isn’t ours but every £ helps #beatcancersooner pic.twitter.com/nNb0RSEitr
“” Cancer Research UK (@CR_UK) March 19, 2014
The trend has since been turned on it’s head, with men donning full face makeup and even no make-up pet selfie’s flooding profiles, walls, feeds and timelines in support of breast cancer awareness.
So what happens with every overnight trend? The negative Nazi’s appear. Even though Cancer Research UK has reportedly had an astounding 800,000 donations in the past 4 days totalling more than 1 million pounds, there has been mass criticism of the campaign. It seems many of those who join the ranks of the barefaced missed the point entirely – to donate and link back to the charities website.
“Surely that’s not helping anyone suffering from cancer and just a narcissistic way to show off how good you look without make-up?”
But who are these sources, criticising an action that hurts no-one and affects everyone? Post a pic, donate to the cause, wear a ribbon, host a charity event – however someone chooses to show your support should be celebrated. Some cant afford to donate or support financially, this is a great way to feel like you might be doing your little bit.
It’s so easy for some to criticise those who don’t donate or link to a website, but for a campaign that was started by the masses and has no real accountability to an organisation or charity, what’s the harm in jumping on the bandwagon for a little fun and showing your support for a cause that touches so many families in Australia and the world over?
