Changing DP in support for a cause is favorable

This argumentative speech was written and delivered by a Grade 10 student Jose V. Tagala during the English week culminating activity at TUMCSI High School Department.

Display Pictures (known to us as DP) on Facebook come in different shapes and sizes. These serve purposes like advertising a product, expressing support to one’s favorite actress, or to a cause pertaining to a country or simply making oneself known to the public. This speech is about that, display pictures on Facebook and as a representative for an argumentative speech, I was tasked to respond to a question, “Do you find changing DP trend for a cause favorable? Why?” My response is Yes, I am in favor of changing DP for a cause, because doing so gives me an opportunity to express myself and my opinion about something. However, I contend that thinking before changing our DP on Facebook is very essential because people will automatically see our DPs once we press that change DP button, thus making them realize what we think and how we feel about a certain cause promoted through Facebook. Yes, our DP is a major attribute of social media because this let people judge us as a person. Rozlyn M, Reno, a commentator on teen issues said “Social media is the reason for many world’s problems and solutions. It can be used to raise awareness for an important cause but it can also be used to spread hate, especially between teenagers.” 

In the present time, we see a lot of ideas being promoted through DP on Facebook. People or organizations promote advocacies or seek support through making FB users change their DPs. This is the trend and it is this people or organization representatives who decide about the DP appearance. For example, the “pabebe wave” from the kalyeserye Aldub, when people involved in Eat Bulaga sought the televiewers support for the program and asked FB users to post their DPs doing the pabebe wave, almost everyone did so, especially those who are AlDub fanatics. The fact that people are really into it; there’s no really bad thing about it. I do not see the act harmful. Seeing DPs of people in pabebe wave only gives us an idea how famous Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards are. The act is tolerable considering that the kalyeserye, as they call it, teaches significant values about love and life which I think are suitable for teenagers like me. This is the type of changing DP in support to a cause that does not harm any person. 

Recently, Facebook launched a way of supporting the victims of the Paris attack by asking FB users to change their DPs with the ones embedded with French flag. The response was immediate that in a matter of seconds DPs in French flag got displayed automatically. I find the act amusing not until I came across with a woman’s DP with a comment indicating her assumption that what she did was for the APEC summit which at that time was taking place in the country. I got disappointed and was made to understand that there are really FB users who just change DP out of following the trend and this one especially out of assumptions. I know I’m young and may not have the authority to say this, but changing DPs without really knowing the cause is awful. People concerned must exert efforts on knowing the reason why Facebook launched the French flag display picture. The act was funny but also humiliating considering that like me she’s a Filipino and her response displayed her inability to verify issues and comprehend as a whole. Further, DPs in French flag showed faces of people smiling which I consider a big mistake considering that they are supposed to show support to those who have been affected by the attack. Aren’t they supposed to be mourning with them? Others even did change their DPs to gain likes and approval from peers. And those who got dislikes and negative comments reacted rudely by posting curses. This is an example of a changing DP act, merely in support with the trend and for self-interest, something which I perceived to be wrong.  

As FB users we must exert efforts on knowing the cause and effect of changing our DPs as the act not only demonstrate our real support to an advocacy forwarded but also display our intelligence and sense of responsibility to ourselves. Let us consider that whatever we display on our page, it is us who will bear the burden of dislikes and negative comments and not Facebook itself.

Changing DP in support for a cause is not about going with the trend. It is not about earning likes and approval from other FB users. This is about our very own expression of ourselves, of our opinion to an issue and above all of our sincerity in showing our support for a certain cause. Our DPs say a lot of things about us. They define us. Hence, Fellow teenagers and Facebooks users, do not let ourselves just go with the flow. Let us prevent ourselves from following the patterns of this world. Do not let someone else’s DP change who we are and dictate our decisions in life.   

Yes, I promote changing DP for a cause, only if it is done sincerely and intelligently. 

Thank you.