Monday, January 23, 2012

Something to remember when using the internet


Do you remember this:

"IT IS OFFICIAL IT WAS EVEN ON THE NEWS. FACEBOOK WILL START CHARGING DUE TO THE NEW PROFILE CHANGES. IF YOU COPY THIS ON YOUR WALL YOUR ICON WILL TURN BLUE AND FACEBOOK WILL BE FREE FOR YOU. PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ON IF NOT YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE DELETED IF YOU DO NOT PAY” (retrieved September 27, 2011, from http://newyork.ibtimes.com/articles/219978/20110926/pay-for-facebook-hoax-rumor-charge-price.htm)
Or this:
"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, FREE IF YOU COPY AND PASTE THIS MESSAGE BEFORE MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. WHEN YOU SIGN ON TOMORROW MORNING YOU WILL BE PROMPTED FOR PAYMENT INFO" (ibid.)?
Many people realized these were practical jokes, but many thought they were true.  Why do you think so many Facebook users trusted these rumors enough to post them as their statuses (only to be mocked by their Facebook friends)?  Do people believe anything they read on the internet?  Should they?

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