In the modern world, people transmit and receive information through both traditional communications and modern communications. Traditional communications refer to a face-to-face ways of communication and voice interaction. Modern communications involve the mediums of communication such as newspapers, posters, and the internet and so on. Most news we see is on the internet, through a social network such as Facebook. People can make comment on Facebook, or hit the "like" button on any material that is posted. This publicis advertisement, calling for crisis relief in Singapore, is about posting on Facebook. The caption reads, "A thumbs-up means nothing in this brutal campaign pleading for more tangible charity support than a like on Facebook" (Nudd).  It tries to tell people that hitting the "like" button on Facebook is not helpful. People in trouble prefer material support in reality rather than moral support in a virtual world. 

            The purpose of an advertisement is to get people's attention to its context and persuade them. This advertisement tries to get public awareness about needing more real charity supports in reality rather than hitting "like" on Facebook. On this image, little blue and white thumbs-up icons on Facebook became people's real hands that surround this poor lady, who is desperate because a boy is dying in her arms. The colors of this image are black and white. The choice of color for an advertisement is a step that plays significant role to draw audience's attention. As the Macworld website describes under the title of "the art of choosing colors", "the designer usually picks a main color and then chooses the other colors according to how they look together and the feeling they evoke when they're viewed as a group"(Snider). Therefore, the purpose of choosing black and white color for this advertisement is to want the audiences will be able to see and feel as it are there in action. Black and white color gives audiences a serious feeling. Without color, the audience isn't given the expected attentional cues to "like" and "share" the photo as they might with a color Facebook advertisement.

In this image, the virtual "like" icon is brought into reality by the use of real hands in the "thumbs-up" position. People may not be aware that they hit like on Facebook while they are hiding behind their screens. Things on the internet are virtual but they have a huge impact on reality, even if we don't realize it.  People try to make a statement by hitting like on Facebook after someone posted this image. It is a good motive, but in real life, we are looking for more material support such as, to those people who need help. Further, it is inappropriate to "like" that a child is dying, especially if one is not providing material support. 

            There is a statement written on this image, "liking isn't helping". This written text is more likely an interpretation of the visual text. Its white color makes it easier for audiences to see. While audiences look at this image, they feel sympathy. The boy in this image has blood on his pants and he seems to not be able to breathe. The poor lady has her hand on the boy's face and tries to bring him back. The audiences are not able to see the woman's face, but can assume she is crying. This image uses juxtaposition to bring two unlike thing together to create satire, in this case it is supposed to be a sad image, but there are people with thumb-ups around them, as if it were a "good" thing that something to celebrate. The black and white contrast underscores that contrast between the horror of the image and the satire of the thumbs up.

In social psychology, there is an explanation of how people are influenced by others to follow them and do the same thing called herd mentality. To be exact, the herd mentality is focused on people and their peers, but with the influence of internet, everyone is involved with the influence. For example, those who are trend settlers would influence people in the rest of society to follow the trend by buying the same style of clothes or accessories that trend settlers wear.  One person hit like, two person like, and then others would follow the pattern. It might be an unconsciousness act, but it actually has impact. A lot of people are not realize and didn't have awareness on such thing. The thumbs are crowded together, indicating that a large group or "herd" is participating in liking this event. This visual advertisement actually brings awareness to the public that people who need help in society are hoping for real action rather than virtual action. 

Visual images have a strong influence on how we interpret information from different parts of the world. The first impression is important for catching audience attention such as the impact created by the simple black and white color of the image, and the surrounding thumb-ups among the poor lady and the boy. This work of satire evokes an effective response. Even though people hit "like" on Facebook, a virtual world, it is unsettling to think of people responding to such a brutal situation with a "thumbs up". People use the internet and other online technology daily, and start ignoring the impacts that a virtual world could bring to real life. The advertisement uses visual text to make a virtual world issue alive and makes audiences think the next time they try to hit "like" on Facebook or make comments. This satirical image encourages people to pause for a second and think about the influence of hitting a simple button.    

