What does the lone ‘heart’ being shared on social media mean?

♥️  Are you curious about why your Facebook feed is filled with cute little heart emojis?  Perhaps you’re wondering why this is happening?  It’s because of breast cancer.  People are sharing the heart in the hope that more people will self-check their breasts.  It’s a rolling social media activity that’s gaining momentum, and represents an important activity for all women to be fearless about.  ♥️

I received a note from one of our long-standing community members and community writers this morning asking me the following.  That is why we’re joining in:  

“Can you put a :heart: on your FB wall, without comment, only a heart, then send this message to your women contacts. This is for women to remember its the week of breast cancer prevention! :heart: Check your boobies!!”

I don’t normally join in the viral crusades of media that are more chain-letter like, but this is for Shaughn and the many other over-60s fighting breast cancer right now, or living with the fear of it following earlier scares in their life.  Shaughn is suffering in the middle of a debilitating fight with breast cancer, one we want her to win.  

The trend has been going for a while, and is resurfacing in particular communities.  Often it pops up in Breast Cancer Awareness month in October.  So what should you do to help it along… 

Post a single heart emoji on your female friend’s Facebook walls, then send a private message explaining that the heart is a subtle reminder to get their breast checked for lumps.  The goal is to cause a ripple effect among women of all ages.  Just like a chain letter in the old days, your friends will then post a heart, and their friends will post a heart.  

And, when guys ask on the thread what the heart is about, the women are supposed to stay silent… as apparently the game is only meant for women.  

There are critics of the movement across social media, saying it’s offensive, accusing it of turning breast cancer into a social media game. Others say we shouldn’t play a game that is driven through silence.  Some say it would be better to post a shareable set of three words “check your breasts”.  

We’re going to give it a try… for Shaughn, and for all the other women that have suffered or are fighting breast cancer right now.  

Put the heart on your page, and link this article so your friends know why.  

It’s simple.  CHECK YOUR BREASTS. Prevention is the best cure for this devastating disease.