"I'm pretty sure I know the ones that will" - Facebook manipulation

[Primroze]

Is it just me, or are people who ask you to share their heartstring-pulling viral Facebook posts with the words "I'm pretty sure I know the ones that will" sinking to a new manipulative low? These posts are often about serious issues of concern, such as mental health and bereavement, but I'm convinced many of them are started by unscrupulous analytics companies identifying target markets for advertising.
AIBU?

The sort of people who post crap like that are the same people who post stupid quotes with pictures of minions. Or at least they were when I still used fb.

Please copy & paste this to your status if you are constantly being asked to copy & paste something to your status by friends who copy & paste things to their status. Many people won't copy & paste this but my true sarcastic friends will copy & paste it because they know this was copied & pasted from a dear friend in need of more stuff to copy & paste...thank you! And don't forget the heart..♥

Deleted Facebook a few years ago and much happier for it.

But I too loathed those posts and always found it interesting that those who posted them were the worst offenders, I.e. against bullying, even though they have a trail of victims; mental health, by same bully who has caused untold damage to said victims; inclusion warriors, but are openly racist and think their homophobic or ableist jokes are hilarious. More often than not it is about gaining likes for the poster rather than the cause behind the message, 'ooh, look what a good, virtuous person I am, where is my like?'

Glad I don't have to see those posts anymore.

"People still use Facebook?"

yea only about 2 billion tho, so not many.
Yes op they are very annoying. I feel like a lot of people who share those kind of posts are the least likely people to actually offer real life support. Or donate to charity or whatever the share is about etc. It's all for show.

There’s one going around at the minute that says something like “don’t be offended if I didn’t tag you but I tried to pick people who would be fun” then goes on to talk about lifting each other’s self esteem, the irony seems to be lost on some people

I went on a cyber security course and they said there is often something embedded in the original message, which is why they ask you to copy and paste - do not just share - you must copy and paste. It's to carry the message forward. I don't know if it's true but it's always put me off - as well as hating the manipulative tone. Same as the 'what is your stripper name! ' Type things asking for your mother's maiden name and your favourite flower - often in your password questions. Probs just scare stories but there are so many scams around that I'm wary. And ya know - it's Facebook!!!

@TheRebelle

There’s one going around at the minute that says something like “don’t be offended if I didn’t tag you but I tried to pick people who would be fun” then goes on to talk about lifting each other’s self esteem, the irony seems to be lost on some people

I know, right? There's nothing quite like letting everyone know that you are not on the fun list to raise your spirits! The tasks are usually dull as fuck too, if that's their idea of being fun then I must not be doing so badly after all.

I've a friend who posts this sort of "Share if you care about your loved ones in Heaven" type nonsense.

It gives me great pleasure to scroll on by.

I hate the ‘copy and paste, do not share’ if I was going to post this because I had temporarily lost my mind, why would I not use the exact function designed to allow me to do it.

The one that’s getting my goat at the moment is on many Facebook selling sites with someone asking for individuals and companies to donate money towards the provision of hand creams and ‘pamper packs’ for ‘our nhs heroes and angels’. When you look at the profile of the poster, they are mlm ‘business owners’ all from the same company, so it appears to be something that’s being used as a sales/commission tactic - but they’re never upfront and honest about that.

OP, if you feel you need emergency help either get yourself to A&E or call 999 immediately.

Tell your DH how you feel at the moment and let them help you.

Sorry, wrong thread.

With the share ones you also have to look at the origins of the post they are sharing.

By writing things like "Eating babies is bad, share if you agree" Britain First and other nasty organisations managed to get likes and follows from lots of people who would not agree with their policies at all.

@TheRebelle

There’s one going around at the minute that says something like “don’t be offended if I didn’t tag you but I tried to pick people who would be fun” then goes on to talk about lifting each other’s self esteem, the irony seems to be lost on some people

I hate that too.

Anyone who does that, and doesn't include me, gets unfriended immediately, because it's manipulative, bullying, playground behaviour, and I want no part of it. They get zapped, along with the arseholes who do the 'I know who will share this and who won't' posts that the OP mentioned.

My facebook friends list has gone from 160 to around 110 over the past 3 years. all deleted/unfriended by me, after shit like the above mentioned, and 'all brexit supporters are thick racist gammon' and 'all tories need to die' type posts. AND the animal cruelty type posts with graphic pictures included. (To name but a few examples!)

@sleepyhead

They're all just copy paste jobs aren't they? Facebook version of a chain letter.

Surely most people just ignore them. I doubt the poster even reads the words properly, just dutifully copy pastes them on to their feed.

So YANBU, they're a load of shite, but YABU if you think your friend has some mental list of people they know will reply.

Exactly this.

They’re stupid but I’m not offended by them. The person copy pasting it (in my list of friends it’s literally just two people who do this crap anyway) didn’t write it.

@HostessTrolley

The one that’s getting my goat at the moment is on many Facebook selling sites with someone asking for individuals and companies to donate money towards the provision of hand creams and ‘pamper packs’ for ‘our nhs heroes and angels’. When you look at the profile of the poster, they are mlm ‘business owners’ all from the same company, so it appears to be something that’s being used as a sales/commission tactic - but they’re never upfront and honest about that.

How horribly manipulative!

The MLM thing reminds me; I have had six bloody requests on facebook from Bodyshop at Home just this past 2 months. From women I thought were intelligent, savvy women. I don't get it. So many are being sucked in! Also 2 people in real life have tried to rope me in. The Body Shop must be on a recruitment drive or something!

@Crackerofdoom

With the share ones you also have to look at the origins of the post they are sharing.

By writing things like "Eating babies is bad, share if you agree" Britain First and other nasty organisations managed to get likes and follows from lots of people who would not agree with their policies at all.

This.

My mum shares loads of things like this

"Share if you agree that eating babies is bad!"

More often than not theyre related to Britain First et al

I had one doing this.
HAD
I commented ffs and unfriended.

This is why I have few dozens of friends there😂 My feed isn't a place for stupid

I have a couple of FB friends who share seemingly random pictures but with a message on saying something like ‘if you don’t share this you will die at 4am.’ The kind of thing adults might have found a bit creepy aged 10 but are just confused as adults by other adults sharing such nonsense! They’re shared by people I have on purely because their feeds are sometimes a bit drama filled and interesting!

It's bollocks. Ignore.

@littlepattilou - these were all body shop at home consultants. I’m down on the south coast and have seen these posts in several local groups, I’ve asked family members up north, in London, and in the west to check in their local groups and they’ve all found the same. From this I’d guess that it’s something being promoted from within their consultant group chats or whatever :(

I just ignore them.

@littlepattilou me too...14 friends doing bodyshop 6 doing avon 4 doing something to do with wax melts..ffs if I wanted that tat I would already be buying it! Thing is with these requests I know and they know they only want my cash yet I am too stupid to notice!! I question their dignity!!!

Scroll
On
By.