{"id":4431,"date":"2021-11-04T13:31:49","date_gmt":"2021-11-04T18:31:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jahangiri.us\/2020\/?p=4431"},"modified":"2024-08-26T09:26:50","modified_gmt":"2024-08-26T14:26:50","slug":"before-creating-a-new-facebook-account-read-this-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jahangiri.us\/2020\/before-creating-a-new-facebook-account-read-this-first\/","title":{"rendered":"Before Creating a New Facebook Account, Read This First!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Locked Out – But Not in Facebook Jail<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It happens. You forget your Facebook password – you haven’t had to enter it in six years, but you got a new PC or mobile phone and suddenly you’re being asked for that ancient password. Do they think you’re Sherlock Holmes, with a vault marked “Passwords” somewhere in your Mind Palace?<\/p>\n

You admit that you’ve forgotten it and you request a reset. You wait, eager for the email containing the magic link. Then, you\u00a0 remember that the email you used ten years ago is defunct and you refused to give up a modicum of privacy to give Facebook a valid phone number that’s already listed in six online people finder sites.<\/p>\n

If you had set up dual authentication or had a set of recovery codes printed and locked up in an actual filing cabinet, you’d be fine. But now Facebook is telling you that it won’t let you in without three forms of government ID, a utility bill, your last rent or mortgage statement, and a DNA sample. Don’t bother. It’s a black hole into which all your proof of ID falls – and nothing happens. This is where you compromise your privacy and proof of ID for no return whatsoSay good-bye to the last decade of your Facebook life, including any Groups or Pages you own, unless you had a trusted Admin who can give you Admin privileges and reassign ownership to you.<\/p>\n

At this point, Facebook helpfully suggests you open a new account.<\/p>\n

STOP! It’s a trap.<\/strong> Oh, it’s fine to open a new account, but there are a few things you need to do before sending your first Friend Request.<\/p>\n

First, open that account.<\/strong> Choose a “friendly name” (if Facebook lets you) that resembles your actual name (without any spelling errors) or your high school nickname if it’s not too humiliating.<\/p>\n

Add a new Profile picture<\/strong> that is different from your old one. Ideally, use a recent headshot that shows the real, recognizable you. It wouldn’t hurt to hold up a copy of today’s newspaper with the date prominently shown in the photo. Why? Because cloned accounts often steal public photos that you’ve posted in the past, and your Profile pic is usually public.<\/p>\n

Add a cover image.<\/strong> This photo should show your personality, but should neither be too close to your core identity or too generic. OK – generic is fine, here. Use your own camera to take a photo of the wood grain on your desk. Include any identifying coffee rings and unique tchotchkes; you can use different photos at other angles to prove you are you, later.<\/p>\n

IMPORTANT<\/strong>: Avoid using any of the following: patriotic images, treacly “inspirational” photos\/quotations, military images, pictures of guns, images showing conspicuous wealth, religious images, children, winsome family pets, or free stock images. Why? These are used by and sought after by imposters. Get into the habit of assuming a few things that may or may not be true:<\/p>\n