It seems a slew of celebrities has fallen headfirst into a digital quagmire on Instagram, where they’ve been lured by a crafty scam involving an “attorney” statement that looks about as legitimate as a cat in a tuxedo. Hundreds of thousands of users have already jumped on the bandwagon, resharing a message that suggests the evil overlords at Meta—aka the guys behind Instagram and Facebook—are about to swipe their photos and personal information like it’s a clearance sale!
A star-studded cast of victims includes none other than Julianne Moore, Jessica Chastain, Cynthia Erivo, Sarah Paulson, Luke Evans, James McAvoy, Ashley Tisdale, and Lily Aldridge. Talk about a Hollywood horror show! They’ve been sharing the statement like it’s the hottest gossip in town, unwittingly leading their fans to do the same.
The infamous statement reads like a legal thriller gone wrong: “Goodbye Meta AI. Please note an attorney has advised us to put this on; failure to do so may result in legal consequences. 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. I do not give Meta or anyone else permission to use any of my personal data, profile information, or photos.”
Cue the dramatic music!
But hold your horses! Let’s clear this up faster than you can say “privacy policy.” Spoiler alert: You do NOT need to repost this statement! In fact, it’s about as effective as trying to stop a hurricane with a wet napkin.
The fact-checking champions at Snopes have jumped in to save the day, explaining that these little notes won’t protect you from Meta snagging your content like it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet. According to them, Facebook users can’t retroactively say “whoops” to the privacy and copyright terms they agreed to when they signed up, nor can they magically change the rules by posting a wishy-washy legal notice. Sorry, no takebacks!
So, to all the celebs and their fans—save your time, keep your thumbs from getting sore, and maybe use that energy to, I don’t know, post pictures of your pets instead? At least that way, your information is safe, and the only thing you’ll lose is a few minutes of your life you can never get back!
