Monday, September 26, 2011

Facebook charging $9.99 tomorrow" -- anatomy of a chain hoax

http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/images/full/2011/09/22/163128-facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-speaks-at-a-news-conference-at-facebooks-.jpg

New features like the Ticker — a realtime feed of activity from your friends — have caused a number of raised eyebrows among Facebook users. And then last week Facebook unveiled Timeline, which has drudged up long-forgotten archived posts and made

(AP) WASHINGTON — In the age of instant tweets and impulsive Facebook posts, some companies are still trying to figure out how they can limit what their employees say about work online without running afoul of the law. Confusion about what workers can

By Michael Krigsman | September 26, 2011, 6:50am PDT Summary: Facebook and OnStar have both developed techniques for tracking unwary users. Read this post for your own protection. Facebook and OnStar, the automobile help service from General Motors,

The Washington Post has launched a new social reader app on Facebook for sharing news in a more social way.

By Michael Krigsman | September 26, 2011, 6:50am PDT Summary: Facebook and OnStar have both developed techniques for tracking unwary users. Read this post for your own protection. Facebook and OnStar, the automobile help service from General Motors,

http://blogs.computerworld.com/sites/default/themes/cw_blogs/cache/files/u34/mark-zuckerberg-200.jpg

What? Facebook charges? Yes, apparently, Facebook will be charging for access from tomorrow. Are they serious? Yes, it must be true: I read it on my Facebook feed. Please. Let's dissect this unbelievable craziness, in The Long View...

Hey, look what I found in my Facebook feed. Here we go again...

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

Yes, it's time (once again) for the "Facebook will start charging" hoax. Oh brother.


And this time, there's bribery involved. Even if you might suspect the message is a hoax, there's a good "just in case" reason to give it the benefit of the doubt:

FREE IF YOU COPY AND PASTE THIS MESSAGE BEFORE MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. WHEN YOU SIGN ON TOMORROW MORNING YOU WILL BE PROMPTED FOR PAYMENT INFO...


Still wonder if it's legit? No problem, we got your back:

IT IS OFFICIAL IT WAS EVEN ON THE NEWS. FACEBOOK WILL START CHARGING DUE TO THE NEW PROFILE CHANGES.


Oh well, if it was ON THE NEWS, that must make it real. After all, everything "on the news" is legit, right? What was that call to action again?

IF YOU COPY THIS ON YOUR WALL YOUR ICON WILL TURN BLUE AND FACEBOOK WILL BE FREE FOR YOU.

Right, yes, OK. But I still kinda wonder if I might look foolish if I fall for it. Perhaps I should just risk being charged $9.99.

PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ON IF NOT YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE DELETED IF YOU DO

Yikes! OK, OK, copying and pasting as we speak...


Ahem. Still think people wouldn't be so daft to fall for this hoax? Check out this real-time Facebook search page. Scary.

And that déjà vu you're experiencing? Do you remember the rumor in January that Facebook was shutting down because Zuckerberg wanted his life back?

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