Facebook is not going to use your photos and status updates

Facebook privacy hoaxes have been around since the beginning of the social network. Facebook privacy hoaxes usually spread by Facebook status updates published by users who have been duped by the hoax.

One of the latest Facebook privacy hoaxes claims that Facebook will use your photos and profile status updates. The hoax claims that if you copy and paste content into a new Facebook post you will disallow Facebook from using your content. It further claims that if Facebook violates your published post that they will be punished by law. However, this is not true. It’s a hoax.

Example

Better to be safe than sorry. An attorney advised us to post this. Good enough for me. 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 If you do not publish a statement at least once, it will be tacitly understood that you are allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in your profile status updates. I HEREBY STATE THAT I DO NOT GIVE MY PERMISSION.
If you prefer, you can copy and paste.

For starters, Facebook is not going to use your photos and status updates without your permission. And second of all, posting a paragraph in a Facebook post that says “I HEREBY STATE THAT I DO NOT GIVE MY PERMISSION” will not benefit you.

One older Facebook privacy hoax claim that Facebook will be charging $5.99 to keep your information private. There are many other privacy hoaxes and you can read some examples on this old post. Most of the privacy hoaxes are very similar and mention UCC 1-308- 1 1 308-103 and the Rome Statute.

What you can do

If you come across a Facebook post that says “Facebook is now a public entity. All members must post a note like this. If you do not publish a statement at least once, it will be tacitly understood that you are allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in your profile status updates. I HEREBY STATE THAT I DO NOT GIVE MY PERMISSION.” let your friend know that it is a hoax and that the post does not benefit them in the slightest bit.