by M Kayo

Created on: January 12, 2010

Recent Posting Bra Color Craze on Facebook Raises Breast Cancer Awareness, but Will it Cause Women to Get Tested?

More than 33,000 Facebook users have just recently begun to participate in the latest craze on that social networking website, adding a color to their status each time they log on. The colors indicate the specific color of bra the user is wearing at the time of sign in. Black, beige, white are popular posted colors, some women have even posted "nothing" in place of a color. No one is quite sure where the trend started. Some have said it was planned and implemented by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, but officials there have denied they had anything to do with it, although they consider it a terrific tool for raising awareness of breast cancer. Some folks who blog and tweet regularly have criticized this latest meme, or internet trend, calling it lazy activism that makes a gesture or statement that does little, if any good. Mainstream  charities have attempted to grab on to the opportunity in hopes of generating more useful awareness, but most seem to have kept their distance. Even Susan G. Komen for the Cure in the U.S. will do as they always have - promote good health and urge more women to get a mammogram.

There are a number of blogs claiming they started the current craze, but no on really seems to know where it began. Facebook isn't even sure where it all began, and refers to it as a grass roots movement started by a concerned group of regular people. The only thing they would say for sure is that it did indeed start on their site. Wherever it started or whoever started it doesn't really matter. It's accomplishing an altruistic purpose that is making people aware of the huge problem of breast cancer among women.

But is this whole thing just too risque? Is it really necessary to tell the world what color of bra one is wearing? Isn't there another way to raise awareness? Even though this is bringing more awareness of the problem of breast cancer, is it prompting more than just awareness for cancer? It would seem so. This posting-your-bra-color craze has prompted pranksters on Facebook to urge women to post adult movies of themselves on the web. Now, if you're an adult woman, I would hope you have the dignity to never do such a thing. And if you're a young woman, please do not consider doing this. You have to always remember that the web is like a giant tape recorder. Once you put something out there, it's going to be out there forever. Think about how you would explain that to your children, future spouse, or potential employer. In the meantime, does everyone really need to know the color of your bra?

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