If You See This Facebook Post, Please Don't Post It Again

It's not the first time, nor will it be the last . . . another stupid Facebook hoax is making the rounds, prompting countless distant relatives and work acquaintances to fill your Timeline with totally inaccurate legal jargon. Per usual, the widely spread Facebook status regards a nonexistent change to the social network's privacy policy. Something along the lines of "I do not give Facebook permission to use my profile pictures, statuses, or personal information" has likely graced your News Feed lately, but in case you're unaware of the hoax in question, here are some examples.

"I'm very disappointed in you Jim" reflects our thoughts exactly. For the record, you'll never have to repost a status to maintain the rights to your own information. As The New York Times succinctly put it, "In short: Your legal rights are determined not by any status you post, but by the social network's Terms of Service, which all users agreed to upon creating an account."

If you're worried about the safety of your information, no Facebook status will change the state of your social media security. Instead, follow these tips to protect your privacy online — they're actually effective. In the meantime, Facebook statuses . . .