The claim that copying and pasting a legal notice on your Facebook page will prevent the platform from using your photos is false. An old hoax has resurfaced, spreading misinformation that Facebook will begin using people’s photos without their permission. The hoax instructs users to copy and paste a legal notice to protect their photos. However, this is not true.
Facebook has not changed its terms of service to allow the use of photos without permission. When you post a photo on Facebook, you grant the platform a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use that photo. This means Facebook can utilize your photo for any purpose, including advertising, without compensating you. However, Facebook cannot use your photo in a defamatory or privacy-violating manner.
The claim that copying and pasting a post can “upgrade the system” is also false. There is no such upgrade achieved through this method.
If you are encountering more sales ad posts than those from friends, it may be because you have previously interacted with those sales ad posts. Facebook utilizes your activity to display ads it believes you may be interested in. To reduce the number of sales ad posts you see, interact less with them.
If you do not want Facebook to use your photos, you can delete them from your profile or adjust your privacy settings to restrict visibility to only your friends.
The intention of the hoax post is to frighten users into believing they must share a legal notice on their Facebook page to protect their photos. This is not true. The legal notice holds no enforceability and will not prevent Facebook from utilizing your photos.
This hoax serves as a reminder to be cautious about believing everything seen online. Not everything encountered on the internet is true, and if something appears too good to be true, it likely is.
When navigating the online world, it’s crucial to exercise caution and avoid falling for hoaxes. Always be skeptical of requests for personal information like passwords or credit card numbers, even if they seem to come from a trusted source. Verify the authenticity of such requests before taking any action. Additionally, refrain from clicking on links in emails or messages from unfamiliar sources, as they may lead to malicious websites or phishing scams. If you come across something that seems like a hoax, conduct a quick Google search to confirm its validity. Reputable sources often debunk hoaxes. Lastly, report any encountered hoaxes to the relevant website or social media platform to protect others from falling for the same scam.
