Don’t Copy and Paste That Facebook Copyright Message

All of a sudden your news feed is filling up with friends urging you to copy and paste a disclaimer which forbids Facebook from copying, distributing, and otherwise using any of your pictures or content. Don't bother. It's meaningless.

Often times, it's credited to Channel 11 or Channel 13, and looks something like this.

As of September 28th , 2015 at 5:34PM Eastern standard time, 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 If you do not publish a statement at least once it will be technically allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in the profile status updates. DO NOT SHARE. You MUST copy.

Also false is the rumor that Facebook will begin charging a subscription fee to keep your status private.

Now it's official! It has been published in the media. Facebook has just released the entry price: $5.99 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 (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.

Both of these cautions have been debunked by Snopes. The online site put to rest (but not permanently) the myth that Facebook was going to charge fees in 2011. Later, it tackled the popular hoax dealing with Facebook's privacy settings.

Here's my latest status update:

Hey Facebook, take whatever you want. Pictures, posts, comments, whatever, they're yours to use and exploit, however you wish.

Copy and paste that! Again, it will do no good.