Home > Blogs > Sharon Tara > Staging New Hampshire

Facebook Privacy Setting HOAX - Verify Information Before You Share!

By Sharon Tara

Home Stager with Sharon Tara Transformations

July 15, 2013 10:57 PM

There is a thing being shared on facebook that is NOT TRUE and yet it just keeps getting shared. I'm so sick of seeing it, I had to share here in an attempt to get the word out and hopefully put this to rest once and for all.

Have you seen this?

Attention friends and family: Facebook has changed their privacy settings once more!! Due to the new "graph app" anyone on facebook (including other countries ) can see your pictures, likes & comments. Over the next 2 weeks I will be posting this, and please once you have done it please post DONE!!! Those of you who do not keep my information from going out to the public, I will have to DELETE YOU! I want to stay PRIVATELY connected with you. I post photos of family that I don't want strangers to have access to! This happens when friends click "like" or "comment" automatically -- their friends would see our posts, too. Unfortunately, we cannot change this setting by ourselves because Facebook configured it that way. PLEASE place your mouse over my name above (DO NOT CLICK), a window will appear,now move the mouse on "FRIENDS" (also without clicking), then down to "settings", click here and a list will appear. REMOVE the CHECK on "LIFE EVENTS and "COMMENTS & LIKES". By doing this, my activity among my friends and family will no longer become public. Now, copy & paste this on your wall. Once I see this posted on your page, I will do the same for you. Thank you so very much.

This is a HOAX! Posting this will not protect your privacy. Your friends following it's instructions will not help protect your privacy.

Several of my facebook friends have posted this, and even after I have commented that it's a hoax, other people have commented "done".

Following the instructions in the message will do nothing other than stop you from seeing much of what your friends are doing on Facebook and stop them from seeing what you are doing as well. Posting this false and misleading information will do nothing whatsoever to protect your privacy.

detective

Before forwarding emails to all your friends or sharing things like this on facebook VERIFY THE INFORMATION IS TRUE at Snopes or Hoax Slayer where they list all the current crap that is spreading like wild fire and shouldn't be.

Re-Blog

Featured

Comments(48)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Terrie Leighton

Ferrari-Lund Real Estate - Reno, NV

Reno Real Estate Agent ~ Selling Homes in Reno

Yes I continue to see this as well. I never re-posted and I never realized it was a hoax either. Thank you for letting us know. Now I don't feel bad for ignoring it so many times.

Jul 16, 2013 07:05 AM

Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi

NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL

708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Sharon: I've seen this many times too. But most people I've seen are adding a blurb at the end of it such as "not sure if this will help, but why take a chance??" Obviously their "scam-o-meter" was set off, but they weren't entirely positive of it. Glad you set the record straight ...

Gene

Jul 16, 2013 08:13 AM

Gita Bantwal

RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA

REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Thank you for the post. There are all kinds of scams . I recd a message asking if I had requested to change my password

Jul 16, 2013 08:27 AM

Aaron Hofmann

Atlanta Communities - Smyrna, GA

aka Mr. Smyrna Vinings

I love Snopes. Every time someone sends me one of those crazy emails that they swear is real, I run it by Snopes. It's pretty interesting to see how some of these have changed over the years with some just minor tweaks and some pretty significant changes. Whatever the changes, people are always quick to believe some of the most unbelievable things.

Jul 16, 2013 08:34 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Patricia: It's hard to stop it once it gets rolling along.

Brian: Those million dollar ones are the worst....how can anyone believe that crap.

Jeffrey: The most surprising part for me is when I put a comment telling them it's a hoax and their friends keep going right along and doing what it says!

Bill: Oh, I'm sure your email was true....that money is probably going to be sent any day now.

Jennifer: I'm a skeptic first too. Most of the time I am right to be one.

Suzanne: Oh the 'so and so will send you money' deal? Sure that's going to happen!

Anna: They are just too quick with the "share" button...and once it's out there, it just gains more momentum.

Trisha: It's a good rule of thumb to consider everything you put out there to be public.

Richie: There is a lot of helpful stuff worthy of sharing....I just wish people would take the time to determine it's worthiness prior to sharing!

Richard: There is far too much misinformation.....and this is exactly what I'm trying to get across.

Kathy: I'm really surprised you haven't seen it. Now when you do, you can be the one commenting that it's a hoax. Don't expect everyone to listen, though.

Nina: Wonderful...hopefully it will help!

Connie: I will make the time if it's a legitimate reason. Most of the time, these things are baloney.

Alexandra: These things are more like a social disease...lol!

Beth: It's amazing to me just how many people will blindly follow the directions without checking to see if it's factual.

Jul 16, 2013 08:40 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Terrie: So it worked out for you, LOL!

Gene: So if they were curious why didn't they take the time to verify?

Gita: At least this one isn't used to gain secure info. It's just a hindrance.

Aaron: Since before it was Snopes (used to be Urban Legends) I have been verifying info. I only found Hoax Slayer more recently. They are great too. I "liked" them on facebook and I get regular updates and warnings from them.

Jul 16, 2013 08:43 AM

Janice Ankrett

Burlington, ON

Staging Professional

I haven't seen this one Sharon. thanks for the warning. I'm of the opinion that you just don't post anything you wouldn't want the world to see because once it's out there it stays.

Jul 16, 2013 09:01 AM

Mitch Muller - Charlotte NC Real Estate

ProStead Realty Charlotte, NC CRS SRES mitch@prostead.com - Charlotte, NC

Certified Residential Specialist

Sharon, thanks for sharing! I haven't seen this one either but these type emails always make me nervous.

Jul 16, 2013 10:58 AM

Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD

Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Hi Sharon, I got a message earlier from a friend in another country. I did not follow the advice!

This was good information to post.

Jul 16, 2013 01:47 PM

Lloyd Binen

Certified Realty Services - Saratoga, CA

Silicon Valley Realtor since 1976; 408-373-4411

Sharon, you're very kind to spend your time trying to stop this rumor. Good luck, girl, cause you'll need it.

Jul 16, 2013 02:51 PM

Bryan Robertson

Los Altos, CA

I see these all the time and wonder why anyone would fall for them. When Facebook changes a security policy, they tell everyone about it and offer their own settings for people to adjust as needed - no scam.

Jul 16, 2013 03:07 PM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Janice: This silly thing has people changing their settings. I can't believe people are changing their settings and don't even understand what they are doing.

Mitch: People are blindly following it's instructions.

Margaret: Smart move on your part!

Lloyd: Thanks, I know I can't stop it. But really it's only the people I'm friends with on facebook that I see...so if I stop them from posting it, I won't have to witness it any more. I may not be able to change the world (of facebook) but I may be able to change my little piece of it, LOL!

Bryan: True. I think people are just too quick to jump on board.

Jul 16, 2013 09:33 PM

Gabe Sanders

Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL

Stuart Florida Real Estate

Thanks for the information, Sharon. I've seen a number of these posts and have never responded to them. I'm now glad I didn't.

Jul 16, 2013 10:06 PM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Gabe: Maybe I can stop some others from responding too!

Jul 16, 2013 10:13 PM

Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging

Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR

"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Sharon, glad you set the record straight. I just saw this once again on FB, posted by my cousin, asking people to follow the "instructions." Crazy!!

Jul 17, 2013 02:16 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Maureen: Your cousin isn't the only one....it's really getting around!

Jul 18, 2013 06:48 AM

Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528

Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY

Real Estate Salesperson

Sharon, thanks for the heads up. I received this from a collegue of mine and followed the instructions. I came here via Roger Mucci who pointed out & alerted me to your blog and then checked on snopes to see that indeed it was a hoax, so I deleted my facebook entry. Once again, thanks.

Jul 18, 2013 01:26 PM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Leah: I'm glad you got the info from Roger. If you did follow the instructions I think you will no longer see what your collegue posts on facebook. You may want to change the settings back.

Jul 19, 2013 02:25 AM

Elva Branson-Lee

Solid Source Realty GA - Atlanta, GA

CDPE - Atlanta Real Estate & Short Sale Agent

Boy that thing kept coming around again and again for months, didn't it, Sharon? It's important to remind us to check out everything online, because so many things turn out to be hoaxes or internet myths.

Aug 20, 2013 01:16 PM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Elva: There is far too much junk out there and people are too quick to pass it on. I check everything before I share. This one was starting to drive me a bit crazy!

Aug 20, 2013 09:47 PM