Facebook Security Paying Users to Secretly Spy Is A Hoax

Erica Abbott — January 5, 2017 Follow @erica_abbott

— January 5, 2017

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Is Facebook paying users to spy on you? Though you may see such claims from some of your friends on the social media network recently, this is a fake story.

According to Snopes, one popular version of the inaccurate rumor was posted on the website Distract the Media. It purported that Facebook’s monitoring and censorship efforts were being taken to another level with users whose specific duty is to monitor your account and activity. It claimed that users who also tell who is watching their account simply by typing “Facebook Security” into the search box. The article continues to share information for those who “enjoy” their privacy:

First of all, we must tell you there is no way to know for sure who these people are. Also, you may not be able to remove or block every account that monitors your activity, although when I did it on my account, I was able to get rid of most.

It then provides step-by-step instructions on how to block those accounts that may be monitoring your posts.

1. > Log into Facebook

2. > Account Settings

3. > Click on blocking

4. > In the search field where it says “Block Users” type in: “Facebook Security”

5. > A new window will pop up. The list you see is a list of [most likely] Facebook employees, spies, and private accounts that are paid to shill for who knows who (sarcasm (kind of)).

6. > Go down the list, and if you don’t like being monitored, just hit the “block button.” Some of the accounts are unable to be blocked. While this is somewhat disturbing, you must remember that Facebook owns everything Facebook, so in essence, you “agreed” to be monitored. (I know. What moral and reasonable organization needs to hire people to monitor you? Right?)

These accusations played on the paranoid nature that often accompanies social media. Many users believe that their privacy is compromised or that Facebook is somehow purposely making their profile less safe, as has been demonstrated in a number of Facebook hoaxes. These are all false, however.

Entering “Facebook Security” into the search box, according to Snopes, simply returns a list of users who have used those words in their profile at some point, whether they’re from a friend or a user who has a public profile. The social media network, however, is not paying people to spy on Facebook users’ profiles.

Did you see this fake story circulating social media? How would you feel if the Facebook spying feature were true? Sound off in the comments section below!

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