Warnings are spreading rapidly across Facebook that claims to warn against users joining a group on Facebook called “to be a Father or Mother was the Greatest Gift of my Life” since the group is apparently run by pedophiles.
An example of the warning can be seen below –
ATTENTION!!!! Do not join the group currently on Facebook with the title “to be a father or mother was the greatest gift of my life”. it is a group of pedophiles who are trying to access the photos. Please copy and paste! We keep the kids safe! (please… lose a minute to copy and paste..)
Copy and paste and not share
The rumour is completely baseless. In fact this particularly alarming hoax first appeared on Facebook in early 2010, and throughout the years has continually reappeared with slight changes and alterations. However it has never been accurate.
A previous version of the hoax that spread in 2010 claims that Fox 5 news warned again joining the group. See that version below –
ATTENTION!!! Fox 5 news reported: DO NOT join the group currently on facebook with the title `Becoming a father or mother was the greatest gift of mylife`. This is a group created by pedophiles whose aim is to access your photos. Please copy
Not only is there absolutely no indication that any type of criminal are operating Facebook pages by this name, the assertions made in the warning are both vague and illogical. The warning fails to describe exactly how joining such groups gives pedophiles access to your photos. When you join a group on Facebook, you’re not giving anyone access to your personal photos, providing you don’t upload them directly to the group itself. Assuming your photos have the correct [Friends Only] privacy setting applied, only your friends can access your photos.
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The warning also fails to explain why – if known pedophiles are operating a Facebook group with this name – why Facebook would not simply remove the group from their site and begin an investigation with authorities.
Given these points, and the fact that this rumour has been spreading for a number of years, we can safely dismiss this nonsense as alarmist scaremongering, started by silly pranksters and spread by well-meaning but ultimately gullible social media users. We do not recommend spreading such misinformation.
Of course paedophiles can and do use Facebook and all parents, guardians and children who use the site should understand how to use the social networking site sensibly and safely. However hoax messages like this will only result in trivialising and detracting from a serious issue.
For further reading, check out our article on 12 potential consequences of spreading rumours on social media here.