Viral Facebook Post Claiming Meta Can Use Users’ Photos Is False

A viral Facebook message claiming users must post a disclaimer to stop Meta from using their photos is false and recycled misinformation.

A long-circulating rumor resurfaced on Facebook, alarming users with claims that Meta had signed a “new Facebook rule” granting the company rights to users’ photos and personal data starting “tomorrow.” The posts urged users to copy and paste a legal-sounding disclaimer to their profiles to supposedly prevent Meta from using their content. Many versions of the message cited the television program 60 Minutes and claimed a lawyer had advised the public to post the text to protect their privacy.

Fact Crescendo investigated these claims to determine whether Meta had introduced any such policy and whether posting the message had any legal effect.

Facebook Post

Fact Check-

We started our research by running keyword search on Google and Facebook Help Center. We found that there is no evidence that Meta signed or announced a new Facebook rule granting it additional rights to users’ photos or personal data. Meta’s content usage policies are governed by its existing Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, which users agree to when creating an account. Posting a copied message on one’s profile does not override or modify these legally binding agreements.

The post insists that Facebook or Meta is rolling out “new rules” that start “tomorrow” at a specific time and have even been “broadcast on TV.”  We ran a keyword search on Google to find any relevant or recent announcement by Meta, however, we found that Meta has not made any such announcements, nor have reputable news outlets reported on such changes. The idea of a specific deadline or timestamp is a scare tactic often used in chain messages to make them sound urgent and convincing.

Additionally, we found that the TV show 60 Minutes did not report on or advise users to share such a message, nor did any lawyer issue public guidance instructing Facebook users to do so. 

Meta has previously addressed such rumors, noting that copy-and-paste posts have no legal impact and do not change how Facebook operates or how user data is handled.

The viral claim also suggests that Meta wants to “use” or “own” your personal photos and information. In reality, Meta’s policies clearly state that you retain ownership of everything you post. However, by uploading content to Facebook or Instagram, you grant Meta a license to use it in line with the platform’s functionality (for example, to display it to your friends, resize images, or back up data on servers). This does not mean Meta can suddenly claim your photos as its own or sell your private data.

Additionally, we reached out to a Meta spokesperson who confirmed to Fact Crescendo that no terms of use are changing on this date. For the most recent terms of use, people can go to this website.

Conclusion-

Fact Crescendo found the viral claim to be false. The viral Facebook message warning users about a “new Meta rule” allowing the company to use their photos unless they post a disclaimer is false. Meta has not introduced any such policy, 60 Minutes did not report on the issue, and copying and pasting a message onto a Facebook profile has no legal effect.

Users should be cautious of alarming social media posts that demand urgent action and should rely on official announcements and verified sources for information about platform policies.