A Viral Facebook Privacy Hoax Has People in a Panic – Don’t Fall For It

Yet another Facebook hoax is going viral showing that we will believe anything if it's on Facebook. 

This one isn't even new. It has been around since 2012, but just this week reared its ugly head again and is being shared by millions on Facebook. Here's how the post reads:

Deadline tomorrow !!! Everything you've ever posted becomes public from tomorrow. Even messages that have been deleted or the photos not allowed. It costs nothing for a simple copy and paste, better safe than sorry. Channel 13 News talked about the change in Facebook's privacy policy. I do not give Facebook or any entities associated with Facebook permission to use my pictures, information, messages or posts, both past and future. With 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 If you do not publish a statement at least once it will be tactically allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in the profile status updates.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. Copy and paste

How do we explain in the easiest of terms? One word. "No."

Your posts aren't going public. Copying and pasting this does not forbid Facebook from doing anything with your stuff. When you signed up, you agreed to terms of service with Facebook and posting this does not change that agreement. It even says at the very top of that agreement that "you own all of the content and information you post on Facebook, and you can control how it is shared through your privacy and application settings." Facebook can't and won't make everything public.

These hoaxes happen all the time, so if it looks and smells like a it could be a hoax, it probably is. If you aren't sure, here's a complete and long list of all the Facebook hoaxes out there from Snopes.com.

Instead of sharing the hoaxes on Facebook, share this photo of a kitten. People love kittens and they're real.