The Freebie Mom Facebook Page Removal And Mothers Day Freebie Offers

The landscape of freebie and deal-sharing communities on Facebook has experienced significant challenges, particularly exemplified by the case of the Freebie Mom Facebook page. This article examines the removal of this popular freebie-sharing platform and explores legitimate Mother's Day freebie offers available through various channels.

Freebie Mom Facebook Page History

The Freebie Mom Facebook page originated in July 2011 under the name Coupon Clipinista. It functioned as a community where users could find coupons, deals, contests, and freebies available on the internet. All content posted to the site underwent verification before publication. As the platform evolved into more of a free stuff, contents and deals site, the name changed to Freebie Mom in 2016, a rebranding that better reflected its primary focus and was easier for users to say and spell.

The page encountered its first significant issue in October 2017 when Facebook temporarily shut it down for 24 hours. According to communications with Facebook Global Marketing Solution representative Alan, the unpublishing was described as accidental, with assurance that "it wasn't supposed to occur and shouldn't happen in the future." Facebook noted that the page had "a healthy history and has no reason to be disabled or unpublished."

However, the page faced additional challenges in November/December 2017 when Facebook limited the reach of Freebie Mom posts. Despite contacting Facebook, the page owner was informed that the page was in good standing with no issues.

Facebook's Removal of Freebie Mom

On January 1, 2018, Facebook permanently removed the Freebie Mom Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FreebieMomWebsite/). In a communication from Facebook Global Marketing Solutions representative Shivee, the stated reason was:

"I have received a response from the Pages team, and upon reviewing the Page and Content shared they believe that the Page should be Unpublished - as it seems that you are sharing fake giveaways to drive traffic to a website."

The page owner disputed this characterization, explaining that all shared content consisted of national sweepstakes with full terms and conditions, rules, and a complete release of Facebook involvement. These sweepstakes were described as free to enter, following proper sweepstakes rules and regulations, and verified before posting.

When the owner demonstrated to Facebook that these were legitimate giveaways, representatives acknowledged their authenticity but stated there was nothing they could do to restore the page, suggesting instead to "start a new page and spend money to advertise to gain 'new' followers."

In response, the owner created a new page (https://www.facebook.com/FreebieMomVIP/) on January 1, 2018, which Facebook removed without warning on March 2, 2018.

Impersonator Pages and Scams

A significant issue highlighted by the Freebie Mom owner is the presence of numerous impersonator pages that copy content and attempt to scam users. These pages often tell users they have won prizes and require payment to obtain them. Examples provided include:

• https://www.facebook.com/Freebie-moms-1949212471975974/?ref=br_rs
• https://www.facebook.com/Freebie-Moms-288914114861317/?ref=br_rs

One particularly problematic page (https://www.facebook.com/Freebie-Moms-288914114861317/) was found posting links to the original website while messaging users and pretending to be the legitimate page owner, likely attempting to obtain money. Despite numerous reports, these impersonator pages remained active, while the legitimate Freebie Mom page was removed.

Mother's Day Freebies and Special Offers

Various businesses offer Mother's Day freebies and special deals, providing opportunities for consumers to honor mothers while saving money. These offers typically have specific requirements and limitations:

Restaurant Offers

McDonald's: At participating South Florida locations, moms receive a free breakfast, including a breakfast sandwich or breakfast extra value meal with a choice of small orange juice, coffee, or soft drink. This dine-in only offer requires no purchase but mandates that mothers be accompanied by a child and order in the lobby during breakfast hours. McDonald's locations outside Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast may have different Mother's Day offers.

Miller's Ale House: Moms dining at participating locations receive a free glass of house wine or a Bloody Mary plus a $10 bonus card, redeemable from May 15 through August 31. A meal purchase is required to obtain these freebies.

Ruth Chris Steak House: Moms dining in on Saturday and Sunday receive a $25 credit for future purchases through July 2. Some locations offer additional specials on Sunday.

Pollo Tropical: Customers can text MOM2017 to 52198 to receive a coupon for a whole chicken, rice and beans, and four rolls for $9.99, valid through May 14. Email club members received this coupon via email, and new members can sign up for future offers.

Starbucks: While not exclusively for moms, Starbucks offered a Frappuccino Happy Hour with 50% off blended beverages of any flavor and size at participating stores from 3 to 6 p.m. on the Sunday of Mother's Day weekend.

Tijuana Flats: Moms received a free entrée on Mother's Day when showing a Facebook post or an email coupon sent to members of the Tex-Mex restaurant's Flathead email club. New members could sign up to receive future offers.

Grocery and Retail Offers

Winn-Dixie: The grocery chain honored military moms through a contest running through midnight on May 14. Customers could nominate moms by submitting 200 words or less on why she deserved recognition. Entries were submitted to [email protected], with three winners receiving a Beauty Basket and $200 Winn-Dixie gift card. Winners were selected on May 15 and announced on the company's Facebook page.

Cashback Offers

Ibotta: The cashback app offered its first-ever "Mimosa for Mom" rebate, allowing customers to earn $5 back when mom ordered a mimosa. Starting at midnight on Mother's Day, the special rebate was available under the "Restaurants and Bar" category in the app. Users needed to tap the "Mimosa for Mom" rebate, order a mimosa at any bar or restaurant, and upload an itemized receipt showing the purchase to receive the cashback. Once users earned $20 in cashback, they could transfer funds to PayPal or Venmo accounts or select gift cards.

In addition to the Mother's Day specific rebate, Ibotta allows users to earn cashback on groceries and household items at stores including Target, Walmart, Publix, CVS, Walgreens, Lowe's, and Home Depot.

Identifying Legitimate Freebies on Facebook

The case of Freebie Mom highlights challenges consumers face when seeking legitimate freebies on Facebook. To avoid scams and ensure offers are authentic:

1. Verify the source: Check if the page has been verified by Facebook with a blue checkmark.
2. Look for official terms and conditions: Legitimate sweepstakes and offers typically have detailed rules and regulations.
3. Be cautious of pages requiring payment: Most legitimate freebies don't require payment to receive the item or prize.
4. Check for brand authenticity: Official brand pages typically have consistent branding and messaging.
5. Research the page history: Legitimate freebie pages often have a history of posting verified content.
6. Report suspicious pages: Use Facebook's reporting tools to flag pages that may be scams.

Conclusion

The removal of the Freebie Mom Facebook page illustrates the challenges legitimate freebie-sharing communities face on social media platforms. Despite providing verified content and following proper guidelines, the page was permanently removed, while impersonator pages conducting scams remained active. Meanwhile, various businesses continue to offer legitimate Mother's Day freebies and special deals through different channels, including text messages, email clubs, and cashback apps. Consumers should exercise caution when seeking freebies on Facebook, verifying the authenticity of offers and sources to avoid potential scams.

Sources

1. Get Freebie Mom Back on Facebook Petition
2. Mothers Day Freebies - TCPalm