No, You Don't Need to Re-Post That 'Attorney' Statement on Instagram, and Here's Why
Posts like this have circulated social media for years, and do not provide the legal protection users are seemingly seeking
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A stock photo of person on their phoneInstagram users do not need to re-post what some are claiming is a legal statement that helps them protect their rights from its parent company, Meta. In reality, posts like these have circulated the internet for years — and do not provide the legal protection users are seemingly seeking.
The latest message currently being shared across the photo and video-centric social media platform falsely claims that users must share the statement in order to prevent Meta from legally “using your information and photos.”
The post, which has been elevated by verified users who are sharing it to their Stories, suggests it was shared under an attorney’s advice, and that failing to post such a statement “may result in legal consequences.”
The copy of the message reads: “As Meta is now a public entity all members must post a similar statement. If you do not post at least once it will be assumed you are okay with them using your information and photos.” It concludes with, “I do not give Meta or anyone else permission to use any of my personal data, profile information or photos.”
Meta did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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Social media notices that make these kinds of claims are known as copypasta and have existed for at least a decade, according to Snopes. In fact, similar messages have been previously directed toward Facebook, including a recent version circulated in May that the fact-checking website debunked.
“Goodbye Metaverse, it's been a Nightmare,” that message started, before it delivered a “warning” to users similar to the language used in the new Instagram post: “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 If you do not publish a statement at least once, it will be technically understood that you are allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in your profile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," the message continued.
“I HEREBY STATE THAT I DO NOT GIVE MY PERMISSION TO USE ANY OF MY PERSONAL DATA OR PHOTOS,” the copy read, before providing users with instructions on how to copy and paste the message as a status update. “This upgrades the system.”
While debunking the May 2024 post, Snopes reported that "we've fact-checked other claims about Facebook policy, including a false claim that the company allowed an 'unprecedented' Facebook rule to take effect that would allow users to do what they wanted with users' photos."
Prior to 2024, Snopes has debunked multiple similar notices and warnings shared on Facebook and Instagram.
In 2012, Facebook and Instagram users shared a “warning” that suggested “everything you've ever posted” was going to be made public, including “messages that have been deleted or the photos not allowed.” The post surfaced after Meta, then known as Facebook, went public that same year. “An attorney advised us to post this. Good enough for me,” the post said, per Snopes.
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Similarly, in November 2021, a post claimed that a “new Facebook/Meta rule” would allow the company to use a user’s photos without their permission. It echoed language used in the 2012 post, suggesting that the change will impact “everything you've ever posted,” including “messages that have been deleted.”
“If you don't publish a discharge at least once, you'll automatically allow the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in your account status updates,” the post read. The 2021 post also encouraged users to re-share the post by copy and pasting it as a status update to help “pass the system.”
The message circulated on Facebook after one of its rules was slightly rewritten after Facebook changed its name to Meta earlier that year. “While our company name is changing, we are continuing to offer the same products, including the Facebook app from Meta,” the Terms of Service statement said at the time. “Our Data Policy and Terms of Service remain in effect, and this name change does not affect how we use or share data.”
According to Snopes, "Facebook users can't retroactively negate the privacy or copyright terms they agreed to when they signed up. They also can't alter or contradict any new privacy or copyright terms instituted by Facebook simply by posting a contrary legal notice on their account."
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