Facebook has removed the”Feeling Fat” emoticon from its list of emoji in the wake of an online petition against the emoticon.
Catherine Weingarten, who started the petition with global movement Endangered Bodies last March 10, said more than 16,000 people signed the Change.org campaign.
She said the petition got a response from Facebook. “In other words, we won!” she said.
“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,” it said.
“We’ll continue to listen to feedback as we think about ways to help people express themselves on Facebook,” it added.
Weingarten and Endangered Bodies said she chanced on a friend’s status set to “feeling fat,” accompanied by an emoji with chubby cheeks and a double chin. Although the emoji was supposed to be funny, seeing this status made her feel angry.
“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. But even worse than the skipped meals and the hours spent obsessing in front of the mirror was the fear of what others thought about me and my body,” she said.
“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,” she said.
Via GMA Network
