Looks like fat activists are not happy with Facebook. They want the social media giant to eliminate the emoticon (or emoji) that says “fat” next to it claiming it “body shames” fat people.
They are calling the campaign “fat is not a feeling.”
The Change.org petition has amassed more than 14,000 signatures so far, and sparked a debate over whether the social network is promoting body-shaming.
“Feeling fat” currently appears as one of many preset options included in Facebook’s dropdown list of status updates. Endangered Bodies, the group behind the initiative, want the status and accompanying emoji removed because they believe it encourages body-shaming and “self-destructive thoughts.”
“When Facebook users set their status to ‘feeling fat,’ they are making fun of people who consider themselves to be overweight, which can include many people with eating disorders,” according to the petition. “That is not OK. 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.”
Ooooookkkkaaayyy.