The standard blurb accompanying this heartrending image says Facebook will donate $3 for every share and $1 for every "like."
Can it really be that easy to help save the life of an ailing child?
I suspect you already know the answer: no.
Will Facebook REALLY Donate $3 to This Infant Burn Victim Every Time This Photo Is Shared?
By David Emery, About.com GuideApril 11, 2012
Explore Urban Legends
Comments
I find these “appeals” on “behalf of an unfortunate child” especially heinous. I’m not sure exactly why they seem worse than the usual drivel, although I suspect that they divert attentions and actions away from actual outcomes achievement. If someone feels good about his or her “contribution” to the welfare of an unfortunate (via a click on “like” or “share”), then there is less of an onus to respond when an actual appeal occurs, requiring an actual action. That, and it screams exploitation of a very real, very painful situation for some kind of gruesome shock factor.
Hi D-V-D,
Two comments. One, on the newsletter, the title link for this goes to the “Mega Millions Winner Splitting Winnings: article. I know it’s too late to do anything about it now, but in case you include this article in future mailings, I thought I should let you know.
Two, according to the Google translate of the Polish site about this little girl, there IS a legitimate way to donate for her (ongoing) care. Copied from the Google-translate page:
“If we want to help, we can make it through the Foundation. Korczak.
Contributions should be paid to the account 84 8642 1171 2017 7100 6826 0001 marked “Help for Ola.”
Money is needed for the following plastic operations, which will remove the disfiguring scars on her face.”
Maybe one of your many readers speaks/reads Polish better than Google Translate does, and can explain what/where the “Foundation Korczak” is for any readers who DO want to help with Ola’s ongoing medical care needs (and are willing to put more effort into it than clicking “like”).
–e
@Elayne: No one is going to donate to an account number like that without being able to trace its authenticity. If there is a legitimate website set up, maybe they can get donations, if this is actually a real victim and not a randomly snapped photo in a hospital. It’s so hard to discern fakes and I know anything posted like this on facebook is a fake for sure.
Obviously they’re doing it for likes and shares, for some type of popularity of sorts
Stop putting these awful fake / real pictures of little children suffering. It’s disgusting to do this for money😡