Around 2 days ago Filipinos started changing their profile pictures to cartoon characters that they loved when they were kids. It was only a few groups who did it but since then it has snowballed into a massive movement. Now you can see Popeye, Voltes Five, Princess Sarah, Rainbow Brite, the Care bears, and a host of other cartoon legends on your Facebook friend feed! Here’s the message that started it all:
Change your profile picture to a cartoon character from your childhood andinvite your friends to do the same. Until Monday (Dec 6) there should be no human faces on facebook, but an invasion of memories. This is a campaign to stop violence against children.
I have no idea who started this or changing your profile picture to a cartoon character will actually help in the cause. It’s a fun idea though and I have a strong feeling that traditional media will pick this story up soon and hundreds of thousands (or possibly millions) of Filipinos will have cartoon characters for profile pictures this weekend. Here’s a screenshot of my Facebook feed to serve as proof of this “enjoyable insanity”:
Yes, I joined the bandwagon. I am now a Carebear. 
CAREBEAR STARE!
But you’ve always been a Bedtime Bear in my mind XD
It was quite nostalgic actually. I remember my Friendster days when profile photos were more on your aspiring heroes and chracters rather than yourself.
We have ’till Monday then.haha
I wonder how the “Digital Death” Campaign is doing. It’s where certain Hollywood celebrities died “digitally” last December 1 for World AIDS day. Alicia Keys, Usher, Justin Timberlake, and Elijah Wood are just a few of the celebrities who committed to this.
This means no social networking for them (i.e twitter, facebook, myspace etc.) until they get “revived” by their fans by raising $1 million.
Oh here’s link to the video they made for it.
http://prideinutah.com/?tag=elijah-wood
I totally had fun with this FB trend. I was guessing everyone’s ages through their profiles and my former boss even posted on his status: “From your CHILDHOOD, not your daughter’s. I have photos here of Darna, etc.” (And he enumerated names of old comic book heroes.) That was funny.
I’m using Sailor Uranus. Funnnnn!
This cartoon invasion was picked up by ABS-CBN already, lol. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/12/03/10/cartoons-not-human-faces-pop-facebook
Haven’t really changed my picture yet, however, from reading all other comments and threads on the bandwagon, I have to wonder, is the original objective met (stand against child violence)? Everyone suddenly becomes nostalgic, and even if this may be a good/warm-fuzzy feeling, it still veers away from what does that have to do with stopping or standing against child violence. Personal comment: great bandwagon effect, but hardly any substance — unless the guys behind this will start lobbying people to actively participate in the cause.
What the guys did is a trend; and I reeeeaaallly hope that the guys behind this will transform what wonderful thing they created and make it into a movement.
@Colin: There actually were a couple of Facebook threads that started amongst my group of friends where people talked about being beaten as a child and that they won’t let their kids experience that. There were even people who talked about seeing other parents hitting their kids. So, I’m a witness that it did work in some level to raise awareness. Maybe not for everyone but there were people who thought and talked about the issue of violence against children.
@Carlo: I also chose a Carebear! I was Cheer Bear, the one with the rainbows! Hehehe. Later on, I changed it to Princess Sarah. Hehehe.