A loud buzzing sound sounds and your phone screen lights up. A new message on Facebook. Your friend, who has never really cared about online privacy, suddenly shares an urgent message: “Facebook is now charging €4.99! Copy this message to unsubscribe!” And then you’ll see it again. And again. And again.

This is the current chain letter/hoax:

Screenshot Facebook
Screenshot Facebook

Sometimes the amount of 4.99 is stated in euros, but often in dollars.


I deactivate too! So they are doing it now, just announced on Channel 4 News. Facebook will start charging all users starting Monday. You can opt out. Hold your finger on this message and copy it. It cannot be shared. I do not give Facebook permission to charge $4.99 per month on my account; all my pictures are my property and NOT Facebook!!! Special thanks to Larry for this legal advice... and to Tim Barker for posting this information: Because everyone is slowly being hijacked (not hijacked not hacked) they are now hijacking our accounts even more. Just in case a lawyer advised us to post this. Violation of privacy can be punished by law. NOTE: Facebook Meta is now a public facility. All members must post such a note. If you don't post a statement at least once, it technically allows use of your photos and the information in your profile status updates. I DO NOT GIVE FACEBOOK MY PERMISSION TO COPY AND PASTE, NOT SHARE, ANY OF MY PERSONAL INFORMATION OR IMAGES. I get more sales posts than friends. Hold your finger anywhere in this post and click copy. Go to your page that says “What are you thinking about?” “Tap your finger anywhere in the empty field. Click and paste. This updates the system.”

”Yep I'm opting out too!
So now they are doing it, just announced on Channel 4 News.
Facebook is charging all users starting Monday. You can do an opt-out by doing this. Hold your finger over this message and copy it. It can't be shared. I do not give permission for Facebook to charge $4.99 a month to my account, also; all my pictures are my property of mine and NOT Facebook's!!! Opt-out Special thanks to Larry for this legal advice… and to Tim Barker for posting this information: Due to the fact everyone is slowly getting hi-jacked, yeah hi-jacked not hacked, they're flat out hi-jacking our accounts , even more now.
Just in case Notice: An attorney advised us to post this.
The violation of privacy can be punished by law. NOTE: Facebook Meta is now a public entity. All members must post a note like this. If you do not publish a statement at least once, it will be technically understood that you are allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in your profile status updates. I HEREBY STATE THAT I DO NOT GIVE FACEBOOK META MY PERMISSION TO USE ANY OF MY PERSONAL DATA OR PHOTOS.
Copy and paste, do not share. I am getting more sales ad posts than friends' posts. Hold your finger anywhere in this post and click ′′ copy “. Go to your page where it says “What's on your mind.” Tap your finger anywhere in the blank field. Click paste. “This upgrades the system.”


A journey back in time to April 1, 2014

It all started as an innocent joke. A little smile for April 1st , nothing more. One rumor said that Facebook would soon start charging user fees. But as is often the case with jokes on the internet, it was quickly taken out of context and spread as truth.

The mix of chain letters

As if the rumor about the usage fee wasn't enough, another chain letter added. This warned of an alleged attack on privacy and cited unverified legal recommendations. It's as if someone decided to mix two different urban legends and see what havoc they could wreak.

Why do we fall for this?

The human mind is strangely wired. We are evolutionarily programmed to take warnings seriously, especially when they come from people we trust. That is the core of the problem. It is always our friends or family members who warn us. And if Aunt Inge says it, then it must be true, right?

Facebook and its reaction

Despite repeated clarifications from Facebook, this myth persists. The social network has made it clear several times that it has no plans to charge fees to users. Nevertheless, there are always people who spread this message, often in good faith.

The real damage

Sharing a message of this nature may seem harmless. But in a time when misinformation can spread quickly, we all have an obligation to take a closer look and examine what we share. Chain letters are not only misleading. They can also cause real harm by causing panic and confusion.

Conclusion

The legend of the €4.99 charge for Facebook users is a perfect example of how quickly misinformation can spread. It is a wake-up call for all of us to be more vigilant and critical about the information we see and share online.

In a time of information overload, it is more important than ever to distinguish between truth and fiction. So next time before you hit share, take a moment to think about this. Maybe it's the difference between fact and fiction.

Interested in further fact checks and truthful background information? Sign up for the Mimikama newsletter and find out about our media education offerings . Stay informed and don't be fooled!

This might also interest you:

Blind sharing: Between self-affirmation and responsibility
The “Telegram rule” myth: A chain letter on the move!
Scammers by post: How crooks hijack invoices and plunder accounts


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )