Virgin Mobile involved in controversial charity event

If we’ve learned nothing else from the Internet, it’s that some videos can spread like viruses. What was filmed in one kid’s basement one day might be viewed by 100,000 people the next day. A new charity drive involving Virgin Mobile aims to use the power of viral videos in order to raise money. It has garnered considerable controversy, though, as the campaign involves younsters performing stripteases. Unsurprisingly, many special interest groups are outraged at the notion.

The idea is that clothing companies will donate articles to those in need based on how many times these videos are viewed. There is no nudity allowed, but that hasn’t allayed the criticism of groups like Streetworks.

“It was a shock to everybody,” said Trudee Able-Peterson, coordinator of outreach services at StreetWorks, a Twin Cities collaborative of outreach programs. “This is the message we send kids? That my granddaughter, who’s 17, should strip to provide clothes for other kids?”

I can appreciate the symbolism here, though apparently Able-Peterson cannot. While the criticism was inevitable, there can still be plenty of good to be taken from such a campaign. From Jayne Wallace, VP of Corporate Communications for Virgin Mobile USA:

Virgin Mobile, which said it had established “good taste” criteria to keep videos “fun but not salacious,” was more defiant.

“(We) believe that promotion (of the site) will result in thousands of new clothes being provided for those in need,” spokeswoman Jayne Wallace said in a letter to the NN4Y, which urged members to support the campaign.

It’s an touchy subject, for sure. We should have a further resolution tomorrow.

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One Response

1. Mark Says
   

   Being the father of three teens, I am appauld at this effort to exploit teens. Nudity or not, sexual predators will be watching and will find reinforcement in their perversions. Virgin Mobile has no way to promise that the kids will remain safe or that unwanted viewers won’t watch. Have we learned nothing from our raped and murdered children. Some things should remain taboo.

   
   Posted on July 14th, 2008 at 5:34 pm

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