If you’ve been scrolling through Facebook lately, you’ve likely come across some bizarre posts from your friends and family. No, I’m not referring to their rants about current events. I’m talking about a dubious status update regarding a Facebook copyright notice that just won’t seem to disappear, despite numerous explanations debunking it.
These messages come in various forms, but they all share a common theme: instilling fear about potential subscription fees or making bold claims about copyrighted content. They encourage users to copy and repost the message to safeguard their “intellectual property” from alleged theft by Facebook. One of the most frequently shared variations might look something like this:
Despite the obvious absurdity of this message, many continue to propagate it. Facebook’s own Statement of Rights and Responsibilities clearly states that “anyone who uses Facebook owns and controls the content and information they post and how that content and information is shared.” Yet, this hasn’t deterred the relentless spreaders of misinformation.
To combat these fake copyright notices, you can click the arrow in the top right corner of the post and choose to hide it. Facebook will prompt you to indicate why, and you can select “this is false news,” which is precisely what it is. Facebook isn’t instituting any charges, and typing random text doesn’t magically protect your data. And no, the CEO isn’t personally sifting through profiles to see who has applied the correct copyright language to their nostalgic throwback photos.
Why Do These Hoaxes Gain Traction?
It’s hard to say why these annoying hoaxes gain traction, but at least some creativity has come from this situation. Users have had a blast crafting their own humorous twists on these privacy notices. They’ve included everything from Santa Claus to unicorns and even the CIA, threatening dire outcomes if you don’t share the posts. Here are a few classic examples:
- “Hide your socks, hide your undergarments.” That escalated quickly.
- “Not the plants!” Pull yourself together, Chad.
The bottom line is this: anything on Facebook that warns of fees or urges you to copy, paste, and share to avoid negative consequences is probably complete rubbish. Always verify information before sharing and spare your friends and family from this madness.
And please, consider sharing this post with everyone you know—otherwise, an actual Scary Mother will show up at your door, drink all your wine, and drop the F-bomb in front of your children. You’ve been warned.
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In summary, the Facebook copyright notice is nothing more than a hoax that continues to circulate despite being thoroughly debunked. It’s essential to verify information before sharing and to stop the spread of misinformation.