I've seen this cut-and-paste status pop up on my Facebook feed a few times today, so I want to set the record straight - your Facebook posts will NOT become public tomorrow. Or the next day. Or probably ever.

The status that I (and probably you) have been seeing states:

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 If you do not publish a statement at least once it will be tactically allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in the profile status updates.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

Here's the deal - this isn't happening. Snopes.com breaks it all down pretty well. Not only is Facebook NOT going to do this, even if they DID, your status after the fact wouldn't protect the stuff you've already posted.

Snopes says,

Facebook users cannot retroactively negate any of the privacy or copyright terms they agreed to when they signed up for their accounts, nor can they unilaterally alter or contradict any new privacy or copyright terms instituted by Facebook, simply by posting a contrary legal notice on their Facebook walls.

Don't like Facebook's terms of use (which DO change from time to time)? Afraid that this whole "they're going to make all of my stuff public" thing is actually going to happen eventually? Here's what you can do:

Don't sign up for Facebook in the first place.

Cancel your Facebook account.

Don't post things on Facebook, or send messages on Facebook, that you wouldn't want everyone else to see. It's kind of along the lines of that old "If you can't say something nice..." thing our moms always used to say.

 

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