Never underestimate the power of online backlash. That’s what the Susan G. Komen breast cancer charity learned the hard way this week. After announcing on Tuesday morning that they would rescind grant funding to Planned Parenthood because the organization was under investigation (um…more like a witch hunt) by Republican members of Congress, online backlash on the social networks was swift and harsh.
In fact, by the time a dozen US Senators put out an email denouncing the Komen action, online activists has already raised enough in donations to surpass the annual $400,000 grant Komen makes to Planned Parenthood. By Friday morning, the pressure was utterly overwhelming. The Komen people announced they’d continue the annual donation to Planned Parenthood, because unlike what Republican lawmakers would like you to believe, PP is about a lot more than abortions. You can see for yourself with this handy pie chart pictured here.
Keep health care for all women affordable and accessible – donate to Planned Parenthood here.
Could anything else get through the online media channels other than the Komen vs. Planned Parenthood story? Well, Facebook made its plans for its initial public offering (IPO) official – and in case you were wondering, yes, it’s true. A billion dollar company is really cool. Even cooler…the graffiti artist who opted for stock options rather than cash when he created some original art on the walls of Facebook’s first Silicon Valley offices. David Choe is set to make about $200 million.
If online media were a battle between the sexes, and the women’s story this week was Planned Parenthood and the men’s the upcoming Super Bowl, the ladies win hands down. But we’re not being fair. Since the New England Patriots have already been declared the winner over the New York Giants and the two-plus minute Honda ad takeoff of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off has already been viewed on YouTube more than 10 million times, there’s really no reason to watch the big game this coming Sunday.
Did you know:
- 49-year-old actress Demi Moore was partying like she was 19, complete with Red Bull shots and penis-shaped birthday cakes before she dialed 911?
- Soul Train creator Don Cornelius committed suicide (let the Soul Train YouTube channel take you back in time for some fond memories)?
- More than half of American cell phone users have answered their phone while in the bathroom?
Graphic courtesy of Planned Parenthood.
Kathy Drasky regularly writes about online culture. Her marketing and communications work with the ANZA Technology Network, Advance Global Australians and with various Australians and Australian enterprises has led to at least a dozen trips Down Under.
An accomplished digital photographer, her photos have appeared in 7×7 Magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle and Google Schmap.
