Privacy? What privacy???

The Social Media Mythbusters have been called into action again. This time, we received an email asking about a status they have been seeing lately, and whether or not you can prevent Facebook from using your posts and interests in advertising by posting a warning that reads:

“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.

PRIVACY NOTICE: Warning – any person and/or institution and/or Agent and/or Agency of any governmental structure including but not limited to the United States Federal Government also using or monitoring/using this website or any of its associated websites, you do NOT have my permission to utilize any of my profile information nor any of the content contained herein including, but not limited to my photos, and/or the comments made about my photos or any other “picture” art posted on my profile.

You are hereby notified that you are strictly prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing, disseminating, or taking any other action against me with regard to this profile and the contents herein. The foregoing prohibitions also apply to your employee , agent , student or any personnel under your direction or control.

The contents of this profile are private and legally privileged and confidential information, and the violation of my personal privacy is punishable by law.”

It would be nice if it worked like that right? Just copy and paste some high school kid’s post about privacy, and big brother backs off. Well, unfortunately, this is the real world, and when you signed up for Facebook you apparently did not read the Terms and Conditions granting Facebook permission to do everything they are currently doing. We don’t blame you, no one reads those things, but the fact of the matter is that when you click “I accept,” you have granted Facebook the right to use your interests, posts, etc. in advertisements and other data collections they sell. And no well-written Facebook post sternly advising Mark Zuckerbeg to back off is going to change that.

Is it right? No. We agree it sucks, but we clicked “I agree,” and until a court rules that Terms and Conditions are illegal, Facebook will still continue farming your life.