Description: Viral joke / Prank
Circulating since: Feb. 2011
Status: False, obviously (see details below)
Example #1:
As posted on Facebook, Feb. 7, 2013:
WARNING!
Facebook will be closed down for maintenance from February 29th to 31st!!. Many people will try to log in from February 29 to 31, just to find the site closed down for those days with no warning.... Tell your friends!!
Example #2:
As posted on Facebook, Feb. 7, 2013:
WARNING!!
Facebook will be closed for maintenance from February 29th to 31st!! Facebook wants YOU to Share this message with at least 15 of your friends for the best chance of alerting everyone. Many people will try to log in from February 29 to 31, just to find the site closed down for those days with no warning..
Example #3:
As posted on Facebook, Feb. 8, 2013:
Attention !! Facebook sera fermé pour maintenance du 29 au 31 février. Faites passer à vos contacts pour qu'ils soient au courant!!!
Analysis: These messages claim Facebook will be closed between February 29 and February 31, 2013. Except during leap years, however — of which this is not one — the month of February has only 28 days. I suspect someone is pulling our legs.
See also:
• April 1st Is Internet Cleaning Day
• Leap Year History & Folklore
• Balancing Egg on the Equinox
• Why Friday the 13th Is Unlucky
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Last updated 02/08/13
