These Memes Aren’t Funny, So Why Are They Being Shared?

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, which is true when it comes to objects.

But people should be different.

People are beautiful. Each person is unique.

Individually created, no matter what someone looks like, their beauty shouldn’t be determined by what they look like. A person’s beauty is so much deeper than skin deep.

When sick memes using a real person’s photo are used for a bit of online fun, it’s just as bad as bullying. It’s worse than trolling because the meme often invites others to share it or tag a friend to share it.

Sadly these memes go viral and they can cause emotional damage to the person who’s photo has been used without permission.

One such meme included a photo of Lizzie Velazquez. Lizzie does look different as she suffers from a neonatal progeroid syndrome, which is a very rare condition that affects her heart, eyes, bones and ability to put on weight.

When Lizzie was in high school, a YouTube video of her went viral and she was dubbed the ugliest woman in the world.

The video devastated Lizzie, but Lizzie used her feelings to become a motivational speaker. She has her own YouTube channel and is a positive advocate for body image.

Recently, when her photo was used in a viral meme, Lizzie spoke out on Instragram to defend herself and those whose photos were used in the viral memes.

Her post explained,

“I’ve seen a ton of memes like this all over @facebook recently. I’m writing this post not as someone who is a victim but as someone who is using their voice. Yes, it’s very late at night as I type this but I do so as a reminder that the innocent people that are being put in these memes are probably up just as late scrolling through Facebook and feeling something that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. No matter what we look like or what size we are, at the end of the day we are all human. I ask that you keep that in mind the next time you see a viral meme of a random stranger. At the time you might find it hilarious but the human in the photo is probably feeling the exact opposite. Spread love not hurtful words via a screen. Xoxo Lizzie”

I’ve seen a ton of memes like this all over @facebook recently. I’m writing this post not as someone who is a victim but as someone who is using their voice. Yes, it’s very late at night as I type this but I do so as a reminder that the innocent people that are being put in these memes are probably up just as late scrolling through Facebook and feeling something that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. No matter what we look like or what size we are, at the end of the day we are all human. I ask that you keep that in mind the next time you see a viral meme of a random stranger. At the time you might find it hilarious but the human in the photo is probably feeling the exact opposite. Spread love not hurtful words via a screen. Xoxo Lizzie by @littlelizziev

The post received over 32k likes and just under 3,500 comments of support.

If we want to be a good role model to our kids in accepting others, we need to ensure our online activity is in line with our off-the-screen activity, and that’s by NOT sharing someone’s image in a meme that can harm that person’s wellbeing.