Versions of the message, which appears to have been written in response to a June announcement by Meta that it would use public posts to train its AI systems, have been circulating for three weeks. But it has gained momentum in recent days as the viral post spread like an avalanche. Google searches for “Goodbye Meta AI” have skyrocketed.

It’s important to prioritize logic over emotion. Can you really opt out of a mass data collection system by simply copying and pasting what your great aunt with questionable views posted on her own Facebook profile?

Don’t just take my word for it. A Meta spokesperson also dismissed the post as false: “Sharing this story does not constitute a valid form of objection,” he said. Meta’s fact-checking teams labeled it “false information” on Instagram.

Such so-called copypasta has been circulating on the internet for years. Similar block messages with legal text have been circulating since at least 2012, when a false rumor arose that Facebook would soon make private photos and messages public. The same concern resurfaced four years later, and the Guardian gently calmed the panic. Both messages had similar wording, citing, among other things, “UCC 1-308- 1 1 308-103” and the Rome Statute.

While these messages may seem harmless and you may feel safe sharing them, I encourage you not to engage with them. Digital literacy is more important than ever in the age of artificial intelligence and it is crucial that we are able to recognize copypasta nonsense for what it is.

Sharing misinformation like this not only exposes you as gullible, but it’s a fruitless endeavor when there are real ways to fight back against the big tech companies using your data. Meta says it will send out notifications to let users know that it plans to train its AI systems using user data, and gives users the option to opt out. You fill out a short form and submit it to Meta, and all public data is removed (Meta has already confirmed that it won’t train its systems using data you haven’t shared publicly).

However, if you miss that, or are still keen to get ahead of it, you can proactively opt out. On Facebook, click on “Settings & Privacy” and then on “Privacy Center”. There you will see a text about AI opt-in. The second paragraph begins: “You have the right to object.” Click on it to go to a form where you can express your objection.

With artificial intelligence constantly evolving, it is critical for all of us to be aware of the real threats to our data and how to combat them – and not be seduced by distractions like “goodbye, meta-AI.”