League of Maternal Justice

An Interview with Facebook's Zuckerberg

Okay, so Facebook still hasn't responded to LMJ but CEO Mark Zuckerberg spoke with 60 minutes and here is a guest post by LMJ supporter, Mothergoosemouse about the interview:

Last night, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made an appearance on CBS's news program, 60 Minutes.  In his interview with Lesley Stahl, Zuckerberg discussed the origins of Facebook, how it's being used now, and where it may be headed in the future.

Zuckerberg is only twenty-three years old, a former student at Harvard (he left in 2004 without graduating), and a longtime software aficionado.  Facebook began when "he and his two roommates created an online version of the Harvard student directory where kids could message each other."

In 2006, when Facebook was opened up "to adults, his fastest growing demographic", Zuckerberg was just twenty-one.  Despite his youth, "Zuckerberg is looked up to in Silicon Valley as a visionary."  And with 60 million Facebook users, his success is undeniable, at least in terms of reach.

While the 60 Minutes interview stated that "Zuckerberg seems to have made one savvy business decision after the next", and Charlene Li (blogger at Silicon Valley Moms Blog) of Forrester Research, a technology consulting firm, asserted that "Facebook is a threat to Google because it could become the first site people go to, to search", it's clear that Zuckerberg has made a few mis-steps - the biggest of which being Beacon.

Beacon was a program that tracked Facebook user purchases at dozens of online locations and made that information available to those users' friends - without seeking explicit permission beforehand.  In the wake of this perceived privacy violation, "criticism of Beacon began to build, but Zuckerberg dug in his heels, until he had a full blown PR disaster on his hands."

Zuckerberg is also faced with a lawsuit filed by other former Harvard students, claiming that he has based Facebook on both ideas and code originally created for them.  But he's not concerned, because "we have lawyers at the company who deal with that stuff."

Finally, despite the company's alleged value of $15B (based on Microsoft's purchase of 1.6% of Facebook for $240M), "Facebook has yet to figure out how to make money off its huge audience." As Zuckerberg admitted in his interview, "we have 400 employees and you know, I mean, we have to support all that and make a profit."

While I can't necessarily judge him poorly for his awkwardness in the interview and his unpolished answers to Stahl's questions, his attitude toward the Beacon debacle, the pending lawsuit, and the yet-to-be-determined revenue model of Facebook all belie Zuckerberg's immaturity.  Given his carelessness in these regards, it's not surprising that neither he nor his employees have shown any concern for the points we've raised here at LMJ regarding breastfeeding photos and pro-ana groups.

But we'd still love to see him prove us wrong.
 
all quotes attributed to this link  and images to this link

New Press Release: Will Facebook Follow YouTube's Lead?

We want to make sure that Facebook is aware of the wise choice that YouTube made in reviewing our video and reinstating it, so we've released another news piece regarding the email apology, as well as a challenge to Facebook to address this issue as well.

We realize they're terribly busy welcoming sexual predators and protecting the Pro-Ana groups, so they may not get a chance to read our press release, but we figure it's important for us to share that information with them.

We'll be back later this week with more information on the Toy Recalls and what you can do this holiday to make sure kids are getting their hands on safe toys. Please make sure to check the Safer Toys page as we have added some really excellent resources.

You Rocked The Breast Fest - But We're Not Done Yet!

Congratulations, Boob Ninjas - the Breast Fest has been a great success! You video-nursed, you blogged about nursing, and you posted photo after photo after photo. YOU ROCK.

But we're not done with Mission: Up With Boobies yet. We've yet to see any movement from Facebook on their policies v.v. breastfeeding pics. We're waiting for a response to the letter below; in the meantime, keep posting buttons and writing about the importance of celebrating images of nursing mothers, not censoring them. And keep spreading the word around - steal this letter, and pass it around, and post it! The more voices, the better!

THE LETTER:

Dear Facebook,

We represent an online community of parents who are concerned about Facebook's recent actions against photos of breastfeeding mothers. We have, in fact, launched an online crusade to voice our concerns and to urge like-minded parents and others to deactivate their Facebook accounts until Facebook issues a clear statement exempting breastfeeding photos from the categories of 'obscene' or 'inappropriate' photographs in its terms of use.

It is our understanding that Facebook does not have a specific policy about breastfeeding photos. However, the nature of the photographs banned, and statements from a Facebook representative, indicate that Facebook employees are inclined to treat breastfeeding photos as indecent. Considering that the original picture of a woman breastfeeding two children had absolutely no breast showing, we don't understand how this qualifies as indecent. Further, we don't understand how Facebook could deem such pictures obscene while allowing pro-anorexia groups to post and share pictures -- something that has been deemed by almost all medical professionals as being detrimental and even harmful. Public nursing is a legally protected right in most states and provinces – and it is well-recognized that the protection of this right serves a very important purpose in removing barriers to breastfeeding, which has been proven to be a best practice in the care and rearing of children - why should something that women are legally permitted to do in real public spaces  be deemed inappropriate for virtual public spaces?

We're not asking for special treatment in regards to posting our pictures, many of which Facebook is allowing in the protest group. We are asking for Facebook to clarify its terms of use for photographs, and to allow an exemption for photographs that depict the act of nursing.

Until these terms are clarified, we will continue to ask like-minded citizens of the Internet to consider deactivating their facebook accounts, and to utilize more socially progressive and family-friendly networking sites instead.

Sincerely,

The League of Maternal Justice

We'll keep you posted about any response - or lack thereof - that we receive. And stay tuned for our next mission!

Breastfeeding is a Man's Issue Too

I'm very grateful to LMJ's dynamic duo for inviting me to join them on their soapbox for a few minutes today.  After all, men care about this issue too.  It's long past time for people to realize that shame and sex have nothing to do with feeding a child.  And it's long past time for men to stand up to support the women who have led this fight for so long.  I may write a blog called "It's Not a Lecture," but it seems there may be some people who need to sit down and get a good "talking to."

I'm married to an incredible woman who's an expert in women's health research.  She's taught me about all of the benefits that kids - and moms - get when moms breastfeed their kids.  I also worked in a pediatrics department for three years, so I saw a LOT of public breastfeeding going on.  And I NEVER saw a mom breastfeed to be provocative.  I did, however, see women who were embarrassed or afraid of what people might say.  Embarrassed to feed their babies.

I guess that's why I was upset when I learned a woman was recently kicked out of a restaurant because she refused to put a blanket on top of her and her baby as she breastfed.  In my town of Lexington, Kentucky.  In June.  In a state where the law prohibits anyone from interfering with a breastfeeding mom.  This woman wasn't parading around the restaurant flashing people.  She was sitting in the back, just trying to feed her kid.  So I know this: it's the opponents of public breastfeeding that are sexualizing the practice, not the moms.  And like you, I don't think someone's sexual hangups should dictate where and when a baby gets to eat.

And I guess that's why I joined with LMJ and all the moms who care about this when I called out Facebook on their ridiculous double-standard of banning breastfeeding pictures while continuing to allow "pro-anorexia" groups on their network.

One of the biggest reasons I'm proud to stand with you is you'll include me.  You'll include anyone who cares about this issue and has something to say.  So I hope you'll also reach out to other people - more influential people - and ask them to join this fight.  Ask doctors and nurses to weigh in.  Ask other bloggers from other walks of life.  Take this to the city council.   Tell those who would mock breastfeeding moms as "narcissists" (look in the mirror, Bill - oh wait, you're already doing that) and those who would have you cover up that their hangups are their problem, not yours. 

And know you're not alone.

Our thanks to Honorary Agent DW for sharing his thoughts on this important issue. Stay tuned for The Great Virtual Breast Fest tomorrow starting at 10am your time. We'll have a list of all our participants and it's not too late to join us!

How are you participating? Let us know.

And make sure to check out the montage and feel free to place it on your blog for tomorrow's fest. Speaking of male reactions to breastfeeding, there's quite a discussion going on over at YouTube. We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Mission Facebook Moves Forward

The response to our campaign has been astounding. Many of you have pulled out your own capes and burst forward in all of your of boobalicious glory to assist in this fight by writing posts, posting buttons, and deactivating your Facebook accounts.

Update on Mission One: Facebook Sucks

We were pleased to speak with the Founder of cre8buzz (and father of two breastfed babies), a new social networking site that launches 10/7/07.

Here's what he said to Lactivista:

Per our conversation we will absolutely not remove pictures of women breast-feeding from our site and we welcome anyone who feels we are a better alternative to Myspace and Facebook.

Our official position:

Cre8Buzz is the place where people can be seen, heard and found and interact with communities of like-minded folks. We believe that each community has its topics, issues and means of expression that are unique. Therefore, we at cre8buzz accept all means of expression, including photos, as long as they meet reasonable standards of appropriateness for that community. For Moms, breastfeeding is part of motherhood like dirty diapers and sick kids. We have no issue with members of the Moms community expressing themselves with pictures of breastfeeding.

Use this link to join cre8buzz, or check out various other popular social networking sites that are specific to moms, including Maya's Mom, The Motherhood and Cafemom. (Please remember, LMJ does not receive any compensation to suggest Facebook alternatives).

We realize that many of you have successfully uploaded breastfeeding photos to Facebook without issue. It's certainly a step in the right direction if Facebook is refraining from deactivating the accounts of women who post breastfeeding photos. But there's still a ways to go: so long as Facebook maintains their policy position that breastfeeding photos violate their standards - while pro-anorexia material and pics of partially clad pop tarts do not - the battle remains unwon.

We've decided to ask Facebook for a statement regarding their policy. We hope that they will not continue to perpetuate the idea that breastfeeding photos are obscene, and that they will publicly state that breastfeeding photos are permissible in the Facebook community. Stay tuned!

We still need your help!

1. Continue to write posts, put up buttons, and let us know about your role in this fight!
2. Deactivate your account and tell them why!
3. Join our Cafemom Group. We'd love to hear your responses to some of the questions we've received from readers and bloggers about this issue. We'll pick guest Boob Squad members to post their responses here on this blog.
4. Let us know about future missions that you want The Boob Squad to tackle (we're not just about boob issues, but all injustices towards mothers).

And don't forget The Great Virtual Breast Fest on 10/10 at 10am. We're still accepting pictures and looking for participants who will nurse live or via recorded video.

The League of Maternal Justice

Welcome to The League of Maternal Justice, where The Boob Squad works to put a stop to injustices against the practices of mothering. We need your support for our first Mission.

Mission #1: Facebook Sucks

As you may have heard, Facebook has been deleting pictures of breastfeeding mamas, stating that they are in violation of their terms of use.

Not only was there no visible breast in the original banned picture, but Facebook allows photos that should also be banned based on their affirmation of their policy.

Could it be some pimply faced intern was uncomfortable with a tandem nursing mom but not the thousands of pictures showing more breasts than a chicken farm? And don't forget that there are over 250 pro-ana (Pro Anorexia) sites on Facebook.

But a mom feeding her child is violating the policy?

The Boob Squad is calling YOU into action.

Facebook won't even ban pedophiles [Thanks for the heads up, Christina]

Show your support for functioning breasts and deactivate your Facebook account NOW. Maybe now is the time to try out another social networking site like Cafemom, cre8buzz, Maya's Mom, The Motherhood, or Twitter.

If you can't let go of your Facebook pokes and prods, then write a post, and put a button up.

We're keeping a running ticker on our site (coming soon). Our boob squad can't do it alone. We need your help.

Are you up for the challenge? Leave us a comment with your post, and let us know if you deactivated your account. We're happy to add your number to our ticker.

SuperPowers activate October 10th at 10am - We'll be asking you to whip out your weapons of mass nourishment and feed your babies live via web cam or send us pics of you in your past or present breastfeeding glory. Bare your boobs for justice in the Great Virtual Breast Fest of 2007. Check back later this week for specific details.