Update: upon further review, it looks like this prank may have taken place but we can’t confirm this. There are other images that don’t have the same issue we’ve found with this particular screen shot, but we’re unable to confirm whether they were modified as well. The slant of the articles covering the issues makes it difficult to determine whether or not this is accurate. Have you seen similar issues take place?

A prank reportedly pulled by a disgruntled Facebook employee got the attention of TechCrunch UK writer Mike Butcher.  When he was tipped off that someone working at Facebook had hacked the system and changed the Advertising tab to read “Lying,” Butcher questioned Facebook’s ability to keep employees happy as well as the company’s ability to prevent such security breeches.  But a closer look at the image sent by the Facebook tipster leads us to believe the whole thing was a hoax.

Whoever created this image of the modified Facebook tab didn’t take the time to align it with the rest of the tabs on the screen shot.  What we’re left with is an issue regarding the public perception of Facebook’s advertising program–not its security. 

Most of us that have turned to advertising on social networks have found that it’s rather difficult across the board.  And while Facebook is supposed to be promoting its social graph and wide array of organic marketing capabilities based on the information users share within their profiles and across the Facebook platforms, Facebook is also dealing with a host of privacy standards and ongoing issues that appeared to be getting out of control with the launch of Facebook Beacon. 

Additional bad PR regarding Facebook’s advertising platform would be untimely as well, considering Facebook’s setbacks for its payment platform and a seemingly unsubstantiated business model. Granted, the Facebook advertising platform isn’t as developed as more established options such as Google AdSense, and its lack of reporting and analytics is surely part of the reason why some feel that the social network’s ad options are nothing but a lie.

Facebook has been layering in more reporting options, especially for the developers which benefit greatly from Facebook users’ social graphs and internal activity and can provide great conduits for third party marketing initiatives.

Fortunately for you, AllFacebook founder Nick O’Neill has had more than his fair share of experience with advertising on Facebok and regularly offers his findings and analysis on the subject, from its free advertising economy to marketing hacks.