ULPT Request: Need ways to Facebook-proof my dad without deleting his account

Posted by PuzzledFalcon@reddit | UnethicalLifeProTips | View on Reddit | 9 comments

My dad(M60) has bipolar disorder. He’s fallen into a Facebook rabbit hole where he sends random friend requests, overshares private family stuff, and keeps falling for fake job offers and scams. He’s already lost about $5000 and I’m worried he’ll lose more.

Deleting his account would crush him emotionally because Facebook is basically his world, so I don’t want to do that. I’ve already tightened his privacy settings, but he still manages to find new “friends” and post things that put him and the family at risk.

I’m looking for practical ways to limit what he can do or see on Facebook without making it obvious to him. He doesn't know I'm currently logged into his account. Tech tricks, simple account tweaks, app/phone settings, or other ideas are welcome. Prefer solutions that are safe and keep him connected but protected.

[-]

Dasrule@reddit

If he is repeatedly loosing money to scammers on fb, get him ban. Keep an eye on the clock and get him ban again right away.

Skeggy-@reddit

Hop on his account and get him banned instead. Encourage him to boycott the platform that banned him.

Even with tweaking privacy settings, people who are gullible enough to fall for social engineering scams aren’t safe online.

PuzzledFalcon@reddit (OP)

Appreciate the advice. I had the same idea too, but I honestly can't think of a way to get him banned. I don't want him to doubt that I logged into his account and did something to get him banned.

I know for sure that he accumulated a couple of suspensions due to being reported for his posts. I am not sure if there are any services that mass reports an account to get it banned. I'd love to take that route or something similar to that.

Not_Jinxed@reddit

In the past I was able to get an account completely removed by reporting it for impersonation. It was literally a fake account impersonating me, but it took surprisingly few people to report it before it was gone. I'm guessing less than 10 people. Like it was gone in a matter of an hour or two after my initial report and mentioning it in one group.

I'd imagine it might work for you if you can get a handful of people to submit fake reports.

Political racist rant with a disturbing image uploaded to a political group of the opposite party will probably do the trick.