The campaign encourages users to update their Facebook profile pictures to classic cartoon characters and has evolved from a harmless attempt at creating a nostalgic meme into, according to unconfirmed reports that don't make a lot of sense, an organized effort by pedophiles across the Internet seeking to connect with children on Facebook.
Sound confusing? The meme has left many Facebook users scratching their heads. So Surge Desk sifted through the reports and offers some insight with this timeline documenting the cartoon profile picture evolution:
Mid November:
The earliest known origins of the Facebook cartoon meme stem from Greece and Cyprus, where the following status update began to go viral. As reported by knowyourmeme.com:
From the 16th to the 20th of November, we shall change our profile pictures to our favourite cartoon characters. The purpose of this game is to remove all photos of human[s] for a few days from Facebook.
According to The Huffington Post and allfacebook.com, at this point, the meme remains what appears to be an innocent Facebook gag.
Nov. 21-28:
Cartoon Network jumps on the viral bandwagon and reportedly creates the Facebook page "Choose a Cartoon Character as Your Profile Picture for a Week" a few days after the possible Greek origins surface.
Dec. 3:
In the days leading up to Dec. 3, the meme begins to evolve into a call to action against child abuse. Messages include the following, according to ABC News:
"Change your facebook profile picture to a cartoon character from your childhood and invite your friends to do the same. Until Monday, Dec 6th of 2010, there should be no human faces on facebook, but an invasion of memories! This is for a campaign against violence on children."
Google Trends is flooded with cartoon-related search terms, and several Facebook event pages surface explaining that the campaign is a National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children initiative.
Dec. 4:
The NSPCC appreciates the recognition but denies starting the meme:
Dec. 6:
At some point over the weekend, the meme evolves from an anti-child-abuse campaign to a viral phenomenon that was allegedly started by pedophiles. Messages warning against pedophiles using the meme as a smokescreen to "friend" children on Facebook, according to the Daily Mail and Gawker, begin circulating:
ATTN: The group asking everyone to change their profile pictures to their favorite cartoon character is actually a group of pedophiles. They are doing it because kids will accept their friend request faster if they see a cartoon picture. It has nothing to do with supporting child abuse and violence, IT'S ON TONIGHT'S NEWS. Copy and paste this to your status, let everyone know now !!!
Allfacebook.com, among various other news outlets, reports that the pedophile development, as well as the anti-child-abuse campaign, are merely rumors generated by misinformation and one extremely viral meme.
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