The Viral Message

The message you've encountered, circulating online, claims a new Facebook rule is going into effect, allowing the platform to use users' photos. It also suggests a method to opt-out by copying and pasting a specific declaration. This message has been circulating for years, often resurfacing with minor changes and false claims about impending deadlines or TV broadcasts.

Fact vs. Fiction

This message is a hoax. Facebook, and now Meta, has always had terms of service that users agree to upon signing up. These terms govern how the platform can use content that users upload.

• No New Rule: There hasn't been a sudden, secret rule change implemented by Facebook/Meta that allows them to use your photos without prior consent under specific conditions already outlined in their terms.
• Terms of Service: When you create a Facebook account, you agree to their Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. These documents detail how your data and content are used. They do not typically grant Facebook the right to use your personal photos outside of the context of the platform's functionality (e.g., displaying your profile picture, showing photos you've posted to your friends).
• The "Copy and Paste" Method: The suggested method of copying and pasting a declaration to bypass the system is ineffective. Your agreement to Facebook's terms is a legal contract established when you create and use your account. A personal declaration posted on your profile does not supersede this agreement.
• 60 Minutes and Legal Advice: The mention of "60 Minutes" and advice from a lawyer is also a common tactic used in hoaxes to lend credibility. There's no evidence that "60 Minutes" has reported on this specific warning or that any reputable lawyer has advised users to engage in this "copy and paste" tactic.
• Public Entity Status: While Meta is a publicly traded company, this does not inherently change the privacy agreements users have with the platform regarding their personal content.

What You Should Know About Your Privacy on Facebook/Meta

• Review Terms and Privacy Settings: It's always a good practice to periodically review Facebook's (Meta's) Terms of Service and Privacy Policy to understand how your data is being used. You can also adjust your privacy settings on your profile to control who can see your posts and information.
• Content Ownership: You retain ownership of the content you post on Facebook. However, by posting it, you grant Facebook a broad, non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, display, and distribute your content on and through the platform. This is standard for most social media platforms to enable the service to function.
• No Opt-Out Through Posting: There is no way to "opt-out" of the platform's terms of service by posting a statement. If you are concerned about how your data is used, your options are to adjust your privacy settings or to stop using the platform.

The viral message is an old internet myth that preys on users' concerns about privacy. It is not based on any factual changes to Facebook's (Meta's) policies or legal requirements.

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