Facebook cartoon character campaign 'nothing to do with the NSPCC', charity says



A Facebook campaign which purports to fight child abuse by asking users to change their profile picture to that of their favourite cartoon character has run into controversy.



The campaign, which urges the image swap, has swept the social networking site and boasts a group page of nearly 90,000 fans. While many believe the viral originated from the children's charity the NSPCC, it has denied any involvement, although welcomes the focus on the work it does.

However, disturbingly, rumours are now sweeping the net that the campaign is actually a smokescreen for paedophiles hoping to narrow down which users are children.

The Facebook campaign urges users to change their profile picture to that of favourite cartoon character

The Facebook message reads: ‘Change your FB picture to a cartoon from your childhood. The goal is not to see a human face on FB until Monday (Dec 6th) Join the fight against child abuse & copy and paste to your status!

No one has come forward to claim responsibility for the campaign. The NSPC C posted the following statement on its Twitter page: ‘Although the NSPCC did not originate the childhood cartoon Facebook campaign, we welcome the attention it has brought to the work we do.’

But one Facebooker asked: ‘How is this gonna help stop child abuse? Sounds like something a paedophile would do!’

Another user posted the following warning: ‘The paedophiles have it easy finding the kids this way from a cartoon in your past! Obviously if someone posts Spongebob Square Pants it’s probably a kid, now Betty Boop an adult!’

Some of the popular choices for Facebook profile pictures have included Betty Boop, Donald Duck, He-Man, Bananaman, Homer Simpson and Garfield



Blogger Shayne House said: ‘Changing your profile picture does not really support the NSPCC unless it inspires or encourages you or someone else to volunteer or donate, which hopefully it will. Did it inspire you?'



As the mystery continues to swirl – indeed the US National Child Abuse Prevention Month isn’t until April - the enormous scale of influence the campaign is having is being noted across the world.



According to the LA Times, nearly every of the 20 most actively searched terms on Google were to do with ‘old cartoons’ on Saturday morning.



A Facebook spokesman said: 'We’re concerned with the suggestion that paedophiles could use this successful viral campaign to target young people. This is not the case.



'This campaign has been taken up by thousands of people, none of whom can be identified as young or old by the character they pick for their profile image.



'People on Facebook often change their profile picture and whether it is to an image of a cartoon character or a photo with friends, it does not make you less safe on Facebook.



'We were pleased to note that the NSPCC, while not responsible for the campaign, have welcomed the attention it has brought to this important issue.'



Facebook has a history of turning causes viral, most recently with one which claimed to raise the profile of Breast Cancer Awareness Month by encouraging users to make cryptic, suggestive status updates.



The NSPCC has denied any involvement in the campaign - but admitted it welcomed the attention

The ‘I like it on the floor’ update raised eyebrows across the social networking website – largely due its flirty connotations.



The phrase, which also sees users substitute the word ‘floor’ for kitchen table, stairs, couch or any location of their choosing, appeared to be an unofficial attempt to raise awareness of the disease.



Of course the mystery lay in what ‘it’ could possibly be.



Fortunately, it was nothing smutty at all – rather it referred to where women like to leave their handbags – and the game seemed to be an attempt to unite women for a cause while keeping men guessing.



While breast cancer charities were quick to point out they were in no way affiliated with the campaign, they were keen to support its underlying message.

