There's a post circulating on Facebook right now that urges you to copy and paste a statement to your page that prohibits Facebook from using anything you post claiming that your profile is private and confidential. Here's what you need to know before you post this. 

Don't fall for it. This does absolutely nothing to prevent Facebook from using anything you post.  Here's the wording of the post that is circulating for at least the third year in a row:

"As of (insert date). Eastern standard time, I, (your name), 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 If you do not publish a statement at least once it will be tactically allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in the profile status updates. DO NOT SHARE. You MUST copy n paste"

So again, just don't post it. When you signed up for Facebook originally you agreed to their Terms of Service which grants Facebook a "non-exclusive, transferable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any content you post." You can read the Facebook Terms of Service here, but let's be honest. We don't read it. Every web internet service from email to iTunes has a TOS, but who wants to read 30 pages of legal junk? We just click accept and move on.

So what do you do if you don't want Facebook to use your stuff? Don't use Facebook.

Here's a video that explains everything better than I can.

 

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