Cartoons From The 80s, 90s Take Over Facebook Profile Pictures

Judging from the slew of searches for terms like "cartoon characters from the 80s," "Ren and Stimpy," and "Rugrats," it looks like the Facebook profile trend we wrote about recently has officially exploded.

As we explained here, cartoon character profile pictures are going viral on Facebook as users switch their photos to images of their favorite cartoons from their youth (See some of the characters here).

According to status messages being shared on Facebook, the switch to cartoon characters is part of an effort to combat child abuse. One user wrote,

From now until December 7, change your profile picture to a cartoon character from your childhood. The objective of this is not to see any human faces on facebook but an invasion of memories for the fight against Violence to Children. Remember we were kids too :D

The hot queries dominating Google Trends show that cartoon characters from Doug, Rugrats, Recess, Ren and Stimpy, Animaniacs, Aaahh! Real Monsters, Rocko's Modern Life, Strawberry Shortcake, and Angry Beavers are among the most popular options for the cartoon-ified Facebook profile pictures.

Will you change your profile picture? What was your favorite cartoon when you were a kid?

Comments

[Elie Hirschman]

02:11 PM on 12/08/2010

The child abuse awareness is an afterthought. When I saw the call to set profiles, it was stated specifically as "just for fun".

[SnarkyC]

01:31 AM on 12/07/2010

Hail Eris!

My top faves weren't from the '80's, since I was born in 1969. However, I was into cartoons from decades before I was born, mainly the '30-'50's, because Warner Bros. made the best ones, bar none (WAY better than Disney).

Snarky

[Iagree]

06:13 PM on 12/06/2010

Wonder, just wonder. if your friends that have changed their profile pictures were abuse victims themselves.... Imagine your friend as a child.
Suddenly there is sadness and compassion (for Pepe Le Pew)

[SES31]

04:34 PM on 12/06/2010

I'm not changing my image because most every cartoon from my childhood is subject to the copyright laws.

[rezna]

01:24 PM on 12/06/2010

I went with the Simpsons, it was definitely my favorite cartoon growing up. I'm 27, we watched A LOT of cartoons growing up. But nothing beats those Treehouse of Horror episodes, especially the early seasons. I went with Kang, hehe

[GatorGrrrl]

11:37 AM on 12/06/2010

According to KnowYourMeme.com this is a hoax. It started as a viral effort and didn't catch on so they added the child abuse angle and it caught on. Just as I suspected.

[CRMurray]

10:17 AM on 12/06/2010

I didn't partake mainly because I watched a crapton of cartoons growing up and picking one would make the others angry.

[Andrew FingerlickingGree]

09:23 AM on 12/06/2010

LOL, I feel so out of the loop..... had no idea this was going on. Cool let me get my fave cartoon character....

[plazma]

07:54 AM on 12/06/2010

I knew someone on Facebook who said this was started by a group of ped0's trying to lure young kids, they said their husband read about it on the web... I confronted her about it and she couldnt give me any proof and either could her ignorant husband... she believed him cause he said it was so, but to me... I think it was someone trying to get people all wound up... I think its funny how people will believe what they are told them, just cause someone else told them so... sort of like the baggers. I kept my cartoon character up there, cause I know it wasnt true... i did a search online and nothing came up, not even on Faux News.

[Dave Bee]

09:22 AM on 12/06/2010

yea I heard the same crap from a friend of mine. its funny how both a lie and a trend can spread just as quickly.

[glossy go]

04:50 AM on 12/06/2010

beatlejuice.

[NeonVincent]

04:50 AM on 12/07/2010

Say that three times in a row and it will be showtime!

[DMSmith]

02:12 AM on 12/06/2010

Since I'm 65, none of the cartoon characters you mentioned appealed to me.
So...I used Wiley Coyote.
I don't think this will make any real difference, but I don't know it won't.
I wanted to show my support, and Wiley WAS compelling...

[fishnetdiver]

06:14 AM on 12/06/2010

went with Daffy myself. almost Jonny Quest but the duck won out...

[NeonVincent]

04:51 AM on 12/07/2010

I went with Dr. Quest.

[G E H]

12:43 AM on 12/06/2010

What's the big deal? Obviously this won't stop child abuse or even raise awareness of it. Maybe some people just change their profile pictures or do the bra color thing or the handbag thing because they thinks it's fun. If you want to do it, do it. If you don't want to do it, don't do it. There's no need to make a big fuss about it either way.

[nhs76]

12:17 AM on 12/06/2010

I already am a cartoon character. Doesn't affect me.

[praha]

12:12 AM on 12/06/2010

to all the cynics, this from the NSPCC: "A warm welcome to all our cartoon friends! We are incredibly grateful for your support to end cruelty to children in the UK. Although the NSPCC did not originate the childhood cartoon Facebook campaign, we welcome the attention it has brought to the work we do. If you would like to find out more about how you can get involved,
please visit our website." The speciousness of the criticism against this effort entirely ignores the fact that in its light-hearted way, though in itself it does nothing to alter child abuse (of course not!) it DOES however help raise awareness, especially among people who normally never think about it at all (unless they, or someone they know, had been victim of it). The organizations that DO help fight this recognize the potential free publicity for their cause it represents. I think at worst it is harmless, and more likely still is that it could even lead to raised awareness and potentially more help than that, in the form of contributions, volunteers etc. People are so quick to judge, and then join the bandwagon, but their judgmental behavior is in the end more pointless than what they are criticizing. Even if it is useless, who is it hurting? Lighten up folks! And anyway you're wrong. It has helped, and those responsible for really fighting against this terrible curse, see it and recognize it.

[JQP 1970]

11:24 AM on 12/06/2010

Great. More people are aware of it.

Now riddle me this, Batman. How many abused children are sleeping in safe beds today because you called attention to yourself by posting a cartoon character as your profile pic? I'm betting you can count the number as a goose egg.

THAT'S what harm was done. While you all were playing a silly game and pretending you actually care, child abuse was going on. and you did nothing to stop it because it was easier to post a cartoon character and pretend that was somehow helpful.

You know what I did on Facebook this weekend? I posted links to charities that help victims of child abuse. And I'm willing to bet that few of them got hits or contributions because of my efforts. So tell me again how "effective" and how "harmless" this is.

On Dec. 8 you'll change your profile picture and you'll forget you were ever "aware" of child abuse. And that's because you were never really aware of it in the first place.

[meirelle]

10:31 PM on 12/05/2010

Yes, because changing your Facebook photo will really help combat child abuse.