# Political Career Killers 2.0 Canadian Politician Resigns Over Facebook Pictures By mediterranean | Published 2009-04-22 | Social Good Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ray-lam-facebook-pictures References: [cbc](http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/04/20/bc-facebook-ray-lam-facebook-photos-james.html) & [xtra](http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/Gay_candidate_resigns_over_Pride_photos_on_Facebook-6608.aspx) While the careers of Paris Hilton, Miley Cyrus, and Lindsay Lohan only got better after their scandalous pictures and movies leaks, it doesn’t work the same way for a politician. That is a lesson that [Canadian Ray Lam](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/look-for-the-leaf), a B.C. New Democratic Party candidate, learned the hard way. Racy [Facebook](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tumblr-campaign) photos of Lam taken at a [Pride celebration](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pflag-canada) four years ago forced the young gay politician to resign. “An issue was made regarding inappropriate material on my private Facebook page. I regret this material and the associated comments that have now become public,” Ray Lam said in a prepared statement Sunday. “I do not want this to be a distraction in the election campaign and have advised the party that I am stepping down.” The pictures in question include one of Lam with his hand cupping the breast of a clothed woman. Another photo showed him with his pants around his knees while another man and woman playfully and suggestively tugged at his underwear. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.2/10 - Popularity: 70% | Activity: 78% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Online Reputation Management:** Online reputation management companies will likely capitalize on the fear of job loss due to inappropriate public online activity. - **Social Media Policing:** Social media monitoring and regulating software may see increased use by political campaigns and parties to monitor and control the image projection of their candidates. - **Social Media Transparency:** Individuals and businesses may begin to take a more transparent approach to their public online presence, encouraging more regulated and responsible use of social media. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Online Reputation Management Services:** Online reputation management services and tools may be in higher demand, as individuals and companies seek to mitigate the fallout from inappropriate online behavior. - **Social Media Monitoring Software:** Social media monitoring software developers could see a boon in business as political campaigns and parties may turn to these technologies to avoid public relations disasters. - **Social Media Consulting Services:** Social media consulting services may arise to help individuals and businesses maintain appropriate public online profiles, either pre-emptively or in response to negative publicity. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Gray QSR Mascot Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wendys-canada-goes-gray.md) - [Pop Culture Presidency Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brat.md) - [Cultural Exhibition Updates](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/exhibit-columbus.md) - [Viral Political Campaign Accessories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/harris-walz.md) - [Voting-Themed Fashion Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/youve-got-the-power.md) - [Humorous Losers-Focused Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/league-losers.md) - [Cringe-Worthy Photo Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cringe-or-candy.md) - [Anti-Gender Violence Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/antigender-violence-campaign.md) - [Naughty Holiday Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diesels-xxxmas.md)