Welcome
Summary
Facebook is going to start charging money for accounts unless you forward a message.
Circulation: Sept 2011
Status: Hoax
The Debunking
This hoax has been floating around Facebook for a short time now but it has it's roots in long-past instant message hoaxes that claimed similar dire circumstances. None of them are true.
Now, believe me, Facebook has had problems with privacy policies and whatnot, but charging for their services is something out in left field.
The first incarnation I saw of this was about 2003 on Yahoo and went like this:
WHOEVER DOESN'T SEND THIS MESSAGE YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND IT WILL COST $10.00 A MONTH TO USE IT! TO SEND 2 EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST, RIGHT CLICK ON YOUR GROUP DO NOT DELETE
Silly people, Yahoo never started that message. If they did, it would have been a status message when you logged in, not something started by a random user and passed on nebulously as such.
Or, the part about the icon turning blue... What icon?
Transitioning back to the Facebook message, the same applies. The note was started by a USER, not staff. This USER goes on to tell you that your account will be free if you forward a message that didn't originate with staff, either.
I don't understand the logic behind the message: "Pay up or we'll shut off your account - unless you forward a message." How in the world does the one take that serious??
Speaking of which, ANY changes to Facebook will come from staff and they will either post it through official channels or notify you when you log in. There will NEVER be forwarded messages to notify you (see my fake antivirus section for more on forwarded messages).
Original Text
FACEBOOK JUST RELEASED THEIR PRICE GRID FOR MEMBERSHIP. $9.99 PER MONTH FOR GOLD MEMBER SERVICES, $6.99 PER MONTH FOR SILVER MEMBER SERVICES, $3.99 PER MONTH FOR BRONZE MEMBER SERVICES, FREE IF YOU COPY AND PASTE THIS MESSAGE BEFORE MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. WHEN YOU SIGN ON TOMORROW MORNING YOU WILL BE PROMPTED FOR PAYMENT INFO...IT IS OFFICIAL IT WAS EVEN ON THE NEWS. FACEBOOK WILL START CHARGING DUE TO THE NEW PROFILE CHANGES. IF YOU COPY THIS ON YOUR WALL YOUR ICON WILL TURN BLUE AND FACEBOOK WILL BE FREE FOR YOU. PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ON IF NOT YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE DELETED IF YOU DO NOT PAY !
Links
Snopes.com: http://www.snopes.com/computer/facebook/fbcharge.asp
Facebook Security Page: http://www.facebook.com/security
