Unbelievable. Why did Facebook deem this photo "offensive"?

By SHAUNA ANDERSON

Take a moment and look at this photo.

What do you see?

The downy hair of a tiny baby. The soft creamy skin of a newborn. His long lashes. His perfect nose.

Do you have that primal urge to reach for his tiny hand and feel his determined grip around your finger?

Do you feel the love of a family behind him desperate for him to get better? Does your heart break at the tubes and bandages?

Or do you feel offended? Is it “scary, gory, or sensational”?

Does it “evoke a negative response?”

Is there any part of this image that you could compare to an accident, car crash, or a dead and dismembered body?

Is there any possible way it could be deemed “too graphic.”?

You’d have to be kidding, right?

But someone, somewhere at Facebook saw that. Someone, somewhere WAS offended. (Or perhaps they just didn’t really bother to look…)

And someone, somewhere took the disgraceful action of letting the family of this precious baby know. Makes you shudder, doesn’t it?

Hudson Bond is a desperately sick baby. His family anxiously waits for a heart donor for him.

He was born on July 18th and a week later his mum and dad found out he needed a heart transplant. Their lives were understandably shattered.

Hudson’s father, Kevin Bond from North Carolina in the US, set up a fundraising page and a Facebook site to help him raise the money to pay US$75,000 for Hudson’s  life saving medical expenses.

Last week he decided to try and gain extra attention for his Facebook page by buying a $20 “boosted post”.

He used a photo of his son with tubes taped to his mouth and nose while wrapped in an elephant blanket and surrounded by stuffed toys.

He never expected this response.

His post was rejected. Banned. Deemed offensive.

On his Facebook page Kevin wrote: “Facebook thinks my Son is offensive. In an effort to get the word out about Hudson I occasionally pay a small amount to boost posts here on Hudson’s Heart. Yesterday Facebook refused my $20.00 boost.“

The reason Facebook rejected the post was unbelievable.

“Reason(s): Your ad wasn’t approved because the image or video thumbnail is scary, gory, or sensational and evokes a negative response. Images including accidents, car crashes, dead and dismembered bodies, ghosts, zombies, ghouls, and vampires are not allowed. Before resubmitting your ad, please visit the Help Center to learn more and see examples of ads that meet our guidelines. If you’ve read the guidelines in the Help Center and think your ad follows the rules and should have been approved, please let us know.”

Kevin was dumfounded.

“What is offensive about this picture of my son?” he wrote.

“In classic Facebook fashion the link they provided to appeal this decision doesn’t work, and all efforts to contact them have failed. Facebook you should be ashamed of yourself. Of all the garbage you endlessly pedal over the Internet, a picture of my son is where you draw the line? Disgusting.”

Comments under his words echoed his thoughts. “Unbelievable! Selfies can go up all day every day of half naked people, or vulgar language can cover the newsfeed, but this precious child that is fighting to live is considered too graphic… it’s a sad day Facebook! You should be ashamed,” wrote one.

“What? This shocks and saddens me as I continue to lose more faith in our country’s ability to use any common sense! Your baby is precious in every way!” said another.

Days later, and after much media attention in the US, Facebook reversed their decision.

For Kevin Bond though, it was not good enough. It was too little, too late.

Just hours ago he posted this: “I read Facebook’s response on media outlets last night. They apologized for the inconvenience this caused my family. Inconvenience was never an issue. Having my beautiful Son compared to dismembered bodies, vampires, zombies, etcetera hurt me, and my family.”

He continued that the delay had hurt his family in ways Facebook would not have conceived.

“The ad in question was time-sensitive. Reversing their decision days later fixes nothing. Further, the company still hasn’t contacted me directly. Had I not read their half-hearted apology on the media I’d have no idea it existed.”

All the Bond family want is a heart donor for their two-month-old son and the chance to take him home to give him the life he deserves.  All they want a helping hand to save his life.

Our thoughts are with this precious baby.

Visit Hudson’s Facebook page here.

You can donate to Hudson’s Fundraising page here.

You can find our more about organ donation in Australia here. 
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