Why You Seriously Must Read the Fine Print on Your Facebook Notification Settings

Florida resident Colin Brickman has filed a federal lawsuit against Facebook for sending him allegedly unwarranted "Happy birthday" text message reminders, Forbes reports. He is asking for $1,500 (INR 102,896 approx.)per text message he received.

According to the official complaint, Brickman claims he specifically changed his notification settings to ensure he wouldn't get the messages which read: "Today is [Facebook friend's] birthday. Reply to post a wish on his Timeline or reply with 1 to post "Happy Birthday!" 

Brickman believes these texts violate the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, "which protects the privacy rights of individuals to be free from receiving unwanted text message spam on their cellular phones."

The New York Post reports this specific violation mandates a $500 fine per text message. Brickman's lawyer Patrick Perotti said he didn't know how many other Facebook users would be involved in the suit, but that an estimated 10 percent of Facebook's 156 million U.S. users change their notifications to avoid these texts. By those numbers, the suit could potentially amount to a (huge but unlikely) $406 billion fine for the site. Facebook declined to provide Forbes or the ​Post ​with a comment.

While this certainly isn't scariest Facebook notification-related news there's ever been, it's a solid reminder to check your settings every so often to make sure everything is as you want it. Also, nobody tell this guy he's got about 294,394 pokes to get through from 2006.

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