Facebook Privacy Hoax Once Again Dupes Millions Of Users, Clutters News Feed

Facebook is all about trends. One moment you're being bombarded with blood moon pictures taken of the supermoon lunar eclipse, and the next you're wading through hoax messages from friends and family who should know better than to post these things. There are two such messages making the rounds at this very moment.

Like just about every Facebook hoax that has come before them, the current messages encourage users to copy and paste (not simply share, you silly goose) a paragraph of alarming text to somehow legally prevent Facebook from violating your privacy and/or charging a fee to keep your private information hidden. It's all nonsense, of course, but every so often, this sort of thing spreads like wildfire.


Here's a look at one of the messages, which you've probably already seen:

As of September 29th , 2015 at 07:25 a.m. I do not give Facebook or any entities associated with Facebook permission to use my pictures, information, or posts, both past and future. By this statement, I give notice to Facebook it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, or take any other action against me based on this profile and/or its contents. The content of this profile is private and confidential information. The violation of privacy can be punished by law (UCC 1-308- 1 1 308-103 and the Rome Statute). NOTE: Facebook is now a public entity. All members must post a note like this. If you prefer, you can copy and paste this version. If you do not publish a statement at least once it will be tactically allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in the profile status updates. DO NOT SHARE. You MUST copy and paste.

Hey, better safe than sorry, right? Well no, not really. I've seen that refrain posted time and again in relation to these posts, but I'd counter that erring on the side of safety isn't a hall pass to ignore common sense. To be clear, posting a message on Facebook -- one that its reps may or may not ever see -- holds no legal ground whatsoever, which is just one of several holes in the above warning message.

Whatever, let's move on and look at the other messaging making the rounds:

Now it’s official! It has been published in the media. Facebook has just released the entry price: £5.99 ($9.10) to keep the subscription of your status to be set to “private.” If you paste this message on your page, it will be offered free (I said paste not share) if not tomorrow, all your posts can become public. Even the messages that have been deleted or the photos not allowed. After all, it does not cost anything for a simple copy and paste

Actually, this one's true -- the only way to avoid paying a subscription to keep your data private is by posting the above message. Just kidding folks, this one is nonsense too.

You may have seen slight alterations of either or both hoax messages, some of which claim they're legitimate because a local news station covered the story. Facebook's response?

Well played, Mr. Zuckerberg.