So you will all have seen Facebook's new, temporary feature where you can add a transparent French flag over the top of your profile picture. I'd say from looking at my Facebook feed, probably at least 50% of people have added this to their profile. In no way do I wish to trivialise or show no compassion for the absolutely devastating events that took place in Paris.
1. Solidarity?
I understand that the flag is meant to show solidarity. We are all standing together against terrorism and support one another. We are France because we care about France. And this is okay.
However, what the feature does show is solidarity with one country and not all the others. Where is Syria's flag? Where is Beirut's flag? Where is Kenya's flag? ...just some example's of where innocent people have been killed just as recently and in just as high numbers as France.
So why is it we have chosen France over all the other countries? Because they are white? Because they are close to us? Many argue the terror in Paris has highlighted the very real threat that this could happen to the UK as France is our neighbour. Therefore, that is why we are supporting them. So are we saying that we are using the French flag to show the fear for our own safety? Doesn't that seem selfish? In other words, if innocent people are being killed on the other side of the world, that's okay because they're not geographically near to us so it is not threatening or even real to us.
2. The fashion trend
Imagine if the French flag was an ugly flag. Would people add it to their profile picture? Probably not. Also, I feel obliged in many ways to add the flag to my profile as everyone else is doing it. I even feel slightly guilty for not following the trend. But why? Am I really having an impact by choosing to follow it or not?
3. Facebook
Let us not forget that each individual person did not choose to add a French flag to their profile picture. They chose only the option provided to them by Facebook. Their only choice was to add it or not to add it. They did not get to choose which flag they would add. They did not choose what statement they were making. One of the most powerful companies in the world, Facebook, made these decisions for them. Have we really got to the point on social media where we are letting such large corporations force their ideology onto us? I sincerely hope not as this goes against everything that the flag aimed to represent in the first place: solidarity and freedom.
What are we really supporting by adding this image to our profiles?
