Facebook "Dislike" Button Scams on the Rise

At some point in your time on Facebook, you have probably wished that there was a "dislike" button in addition to the customary "like" button. This wish is very popular, however, Facebook hasn't taken the hint yet.

[caption id="attachment_6775" align="alignleft" width="360" caption="The Classic Facebook "Like" Button"][/caption]

Now, there are some social-media spoilers that are turning the public's desire for a dislike button into various scams. What they do is they build a Facebook application with the like icon turned upside down making it into a thumbs down. This makes it look like a legitimate addition to the site, but it's not.

When you install this application, you allow it go gain access to your wall and some of your settings. This enables it to make posts on your wall promoting itself. This makes your friends get it as well and the whole thing just gets bigger.

The truth is, however, that you can't really dislike things with this button. Facebook hasn't decided to build are real, legitimate button yet so it will only seem real to you. Your "dislikes" will be invisible to everyone else but you.

A way to protect yourself from these scams is to just not click on any suspicious links on Facebook. Especially if they are promising something that seems unlikely or even impossible.

If Facebook does release a dislike button, you will notice it next to the like button on peoples' status updates. As well, you won't have to go to some application page to enable it. It will just be there waiting for you.

A good rule of thumb for being safe on Facebook: Don't give away your personal information, or access to your profile, unless you know exactly who you're giving it too and why.

These rogue applications' main purposes are to gain your personal information to sell to other parties.

"We always encourage people to not click on links that appear suspicious, even if posted from a friend," a Facebook representative said.