Play

The Facebook privacy hoax returns every year to teach everyone that people the world over are equally gullible. And equally incapable of resisting the impulse to sound pompous.

After all, why would a Facebook status prevent Facebook from accessing your posts when you have already agreed to the terms and conditions while making an account in the first place? Besides, the Rome Statute was a treaty that established the International Criminal Court?

But who cares for all that when you think you can reclaim your freedom from Facebook?

In the video above, the internet's favourite debunker and critic, John Oliver, causes pain to the credulous. Before he begins, he'd like everyone to "close out of your ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend's Facebook page. You aren't imagining it, they are absolutely happier than they have ever been".

The only way to get prevent Facebook from hacking your profile? "Post this video... starring me John Oliver, as it is clearly stated in the Social Media Profile Copyright Act of 1934."

Here's the folks at College Humor explaining what they call the Facebook law for idiots. By posting this state update, what you are actually saying is "I don't know how laws work, I think legal terms are magic words that can force people to do what I want, I believe a Facebook post is a binding legal contract..."

"Stop being a dumb Darrell, a gullible Gus and an uninformed Umberto."

Play

Predictably, the folks on social media had plenty to say.

Unfortunately, there are only two ways to completely protect your privacy on Facebook. Here's one.

Don't worry, there's an easier, more foolproof way.

This is the Facebook privacy egg. Copy and share a picture of it and it will protect your privacy forever.