The Ethical Uses of Images on Social Media
The Ethical Uses of Images on Social Media
Michael Friant
Cape Fear Community College Have you ever seen a video or picture of a person with a physical or intellectual disability on social media? Have you ever questioned the authenticity of the original source, or wondered if that person was compensated? Some organizations such as Bitty and Beau’s Coffee and Miracle League, whose mission is to serve people with disabilities, have gotten permission to share their images on social media while other individuals do not have permission or they take the use of these images too far. While social media has allowed for some beneficial uses of these images, it has also made it easier for these images to be commodified, shared, and reproduced without the person’s knowledge or consent.
There are times when people use the images of individuals with disabilities in a nefarious manner and without their consent. Kirsty Liddiard (2014) highlights two examples in which the image of Adam Holland, who has Down syndrome, was altered by an individual for negative purposes. First, she gives the example of Cox Media Company who altered an image of him joyously displaying a piece of his art work to make it seem like he was displaying a sign which read, “Retarded News.” Secondly, she describes another example when an individual photoshopped the same image of him on Flickr to make it seem he was showing off an image which read, “I got a boner” (p. 97). These two incidents illustrate individuals with disabilities are often used as props for some hateful agenda. It also illustrates society’s inability to respect and recognize people with disabilities as having rights and feelings.
While misusing the image of an intellectually challenged person is abhorrent, profiting off the image of an individual with altered physical features after their death is equally appalling. Liddiard (2014) writes of the example of Merlin German a Marine whose physical features were altered when he was involved in an explosion while serving in Iraq. She describes that his image is still being commodified even though he passed away in 2008. Another example she quotes is when two images of him before and after the incidents circulated on Facebook with the caption “Like if you respect him, ignore if you don’t respect him” (p. 98). Social media has significantly simplified the meaning of what it means to respect a soldier. Instead of implementing legislation that would guarantee the treatment and care of those who have pledged their lives to defend the freedoms of the country, people are “supporting” a post on social media.
However, there are other instances where people falsify the identities of people with intellectual disabilities to elicit an emotional response in order to gain some level of internet capital. Liddiard (2014) discusses one such incident when an individual took the image of a Down Syndrome girl named Katie and placed it within an image and posted it on Facebook under the pretense of them being sisters. The caption was a message that claimed “Mallory” was struggling with self-worth issues and if people liked the post it would show Mallory that she was actually beautiful (p. 97). It shows lack of understanding of the significance if someone who actually knew Katie saw this and overreacted. The individual might become worried that Katie was suicidal and alert her parents which would undoubtedly put into motion a string of events which would be stressful and unnecessary for those involved. This would be caused by a single post of another’s image, thus the reason why people should not share pictures of anonymous strangers for internet fame.
Nevertheless, there are times when individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities share images of themselves on social media which can be a good promotional strategy. Amber Moore (2017) recalls a classroom discussion in which they explored the meaning of disabilities through a number of exercises. At one point, she shows them the TED Talk by Stellar Young in which she discussed her negative feelings towards “inspirational porn” and how disabled people are often used for the emotional gratification of able-bodied people. It was in this context that one of her students asked if whether or not it was proper to acknowledge people with disabilities and when they post images of themselves on social media for financial profit or charitable works. They discussed the case of Terry Fox, a leg amputee and cancer survivor, who traveled by foot across Canada to raise money for research. They also discussed Rick Hansen, a quadriplegic and Paralympian, who raised money for cancer research by attempting to travel the world in his wheelchair (p. 80). Why is this considered be a relevant topic of discussion in this modern age of social media? Terry Fox and Rick Hansen are two grown adults who should be able to post pictures of themselves to a social media platform just as their “able-bodied” peers without having people question their motives. They are the ones sharing their images which means they have control of the portrayal of their image and the caption attached to them rather than those examples where the images were manipulated by unknown parties.
There are certain organizations that have the ethical authorization to use images of individuals with disabilities on their social media. Take for example, Bitty and Beau’s Coffee’s #NotBroken social media campaign featured in an article by WWAY3 News (2018). In the video at the top of the article, the founder of Bitty and Beau’s, Amy Wright, surrounded by individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities explained that they wanted to show the world they are not broken since people often overlook the skills they have to offer to society and invited individuals to post pictures of themselves with the hashtag #NotBroken. Bitty and Beau’s has the ethical authorization to share this video since the employees probably have signed a media release form. In doing so, they are not only promoting their business, but they are also making their employees feel valued and loved. They are also empowering individuals to post a picture of their own choice to social media.
Social media has provided a unique challenge in the sharing and commodification of images with people with intellectual and physical disabilities as with the cases mentioned by Liddiard, Moore, and WWAY3 News. Individuals who have the privilege of being on social media ought to be more mindful the next time they want to “like” and/or share an image of someone based on some emotional gain or internet capital. These users should empower those individuals by encouraging them to share and dictate how they are perceived on social media. References
Bitty & Beau’s coffee launches #notbroken campaign (2018, April 27). WWAY3 News. Retrieved from https://www.wwaytv3.com/2018/04/27/bitty-beaus-coffee-launches-
notbroken-campaign/
Liddiard, K. (2014). MEDIA REVIEW: Liking for like's sake - the commodification of disability on facebook. Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 20(3), 94-101.
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ezproxy.cfcc.edu/docview/1644294473?accountid=9875
Moore, A. (2017). Disabling assumptions. English Journal, 106(4), 79-81. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.cfcc.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.cfcc.edu/ docview/1880454448?accountid=9875