Why Facebook looks like an orchard

You’ve probably seen the posts by now. Bananas, raspberries, strawberries, apple or grapes as listed by women on Facebook as their status updates.

This is meant to correspond with their relationship status. For each type of fruit put up, they’re either married, single, in a relationship and so on.

All this is in a bid to “raise awareness” for breast cancer. A message being circulated to women users reads in part;

...You will state where you are, by posting one of the codes below. Remember, don’t reply to this message. Just type your one word response in your status box on your profile. Then cut and paste this whole message into a new message and send it along to your female friends:

Blueberry: I’m single
Pineapple: It’s complicated
Raspberry: I’m a touch and go woman
Apple: Engaged
Cherry: In a relationship
Banana: I’m married
Avocado: I’m the “other one”
Strawberry: Can’t find the right one
Lemon: Wish I was single
Grape: Wants to get married...

This is not the first time such a game is gaining popularity in Kenya.

In 2016, a similar message required the women to put up the colour of the bra they were wearing.

While the mass status update is being propagated as a way to raise awareness on breast cancer, no actual message is being sent across that would have a meaningful impact.