A simple message posted on your profile will not protect the content you post

Jun 5, 2012 08:43 GMT  ·  By

The latest hoax that’s making the rounds on Facebook is not only somewhat amusing, but it can also be seen as something that may give some naïve users a false sense of security.

Here’s what the phony post looks like:

Facebook is now a publicly traded entity. Unless you state otherwise, anyone can infringe on your right to privacy once you post to this site. It is recommended that you and other members post a similar notice as this, or you may copy and paste this version.

If you do not post such a statement once, then you are indirectly allowing public use of items such as your photos and the information contained in your status updates.

What follows is the actual privacy notice that, at first glance, seems to be written by someone with certain legal know-how. However, the “warning” is just as worthless as a piece of paper on which you write down that you proclaim yourself the king of your country.

As Graham Cluley highlights, no one will stop using the content you publicly make available just because you prohibit them from doing so.

If you want to make sure that no one will misuse the pictures, comments and other content you post on Facebook or other social media websites, the best thing you can do is closely analyze the privacy settings and configure them to suit your own needs.

Also, if you don’t want “any person and/or institution and/or Agent and/or Agency of any governmental structure” to utilize certain parts of your profile, then don’t make them available in the first place.

Facebook is trying to respect your privacy (at least officially), but they can only do so much. Take this advice from us: if you don’t protect your privacy, no one will do it for you.