Technology / Internet
Parents and security experts complain about the 'Most Beautiful Teen' contest on Facebook
15 Mar 2012 at 20:11hrs | Views
A Facebook page dedicated to ‘beautiful’ teens is alarming some parents.
A controversial Facebook page is soliciting pictures from teenagers to decide, who, on Facebook is the "most beautiful teenager in the world."
The page, which has more than 98,000 likes, has solicited complaints from parents and security experts who are concerned for the teens' self-esteem - and safety, ABC News reports.
While Facebook told ABC that it had shut down the page, at least some version of the page seems to be still available on the social media site.
To participate in the "contest," teens have to upload their pictures on the site - and wait for commentary. The weekly winner is chosen by which picture receives the most "likes."
People claiming to be teens flooded the comment section over the photos - some of which were spam and some of which were incredibly provocative and age inappropriate.
The comments ranged from grossly complimentary to vicious.
"Nasty nose piercing," one commentor wrote on a picture, as others remarked on the teen's cleavage.
On another picture, commentors tore into a girl, calling her "fat" and "too ugly."
"Pluck dem eyebrows gurl!" one added.
A concerned parent told ABC News that her 15-year-old daughter had been horrified by the comments she received after submitting her pictures to be judged.
"She read them [the comments] to me, several of them, and I couldn't handle hearing them because it just made me very upset and angry," Marcy Kemp-Rank said.
The page also alarmed security experts who are concerned for the "contestants'" safety.
The page is an "open" page, which means it can be viewed by anyone with a Facebook account.
Facebook did not immediately return a call for comment.
The page, which has more than 98,000 likes, has solicited complaints from parents and security experts who are concerned for the teens' self-esteem - and safety, ABC News reports.
While Facebook told ABC that it had shut down the page, at least some version of the page seems to be still available on the social media site.
To participate in the "contest," teens have to upload their pictures on the site - and wait for commentary. The weekly winner is chosen by which picture receives the most "likes."
People claiming to be teens flooded the comment section over the photos - some of which were spam and some of which were incredibly provocative and age inappropriate.
The comments ranged from grossly complimentary to vicious.
"Nasty nose piercing," one commentor wrote on a picture, as others remarked on the teen's cleavage.
On another picture, commentors tore into a girl, calling her "fat" and "too ugly."
"Pluck dem eyebrows gurl!" one added.
A concerned parent told ABC News that her 15-year-old daughter had been horrified by the comments she received after submitting her pictures to be judged.
"She read them [the comments] to me, several of them, and I couldn't handle hearing them because it just made me very upset and angry," Marcy Kemp-Rank said.
The page also alarmed security experts who are concerned for the "contestants'" safety.
The page is an "open" page, which means it can be viewed by anyone with a Facebook account.
Facebook did not immediately return a call for comment.
Source - NyDaily
