The Freebie Mom Facebook page, established in July 2011 under the original name Coupon Clipinista, served as a community hub for individuals seeking coupons, deals, contests, and freebies available on the internet. The platform operated on a principle of verification, ensuring that all content was vetted before being posted to the site. As the site evolved to focus more heavily on free items, contests, and deals, it underwent a rebranding in 2016 to become Freebie Mom. This name change was implemented because it was easier to say and spell, and because the majority of users were utilizing the site specifically to enter contests.
In October 2017, the Freebie Mom page was shut down by Facebook for a period of 24 hours. Facebook characterized this removal as an error and subsequently republished the page. Communications from Facebook regarding this incident indicated that the unpublishing was accidental and should not recur. Specifically, a representative from Facebook’s Global Marketing Solutions team stated, "They advised that the unpublishing was accidental, it wasn’t supposed to occur and shouldn't happen in the future. They advised that the Page has a healthy history and has no reason to be disabled or unpublished." Despite these assurances, in November and December 2017, Facebook began limiting the reach of Freebie Mom posts. When the page administrators contacted Facebook regarding this reduction in visibility, the platform maintained that the page was in good standing and that there were no issues with it.
The situation escalated on January 1, 2018, when Facebook permanently removed the page (https://www.facebook.com/FreebieMomWebsite/). The stated reason for this removal was that the page was sharing fake giveaways to drive traffic to a website. The administrators of Freebie Mom contested this claim, asserting that the page did not share fake giveaways. They clarified that the content consisted of national sweepstakes with full terms and conditions, rules, and a complete release of Facebook’s involvement in the sweepstakes. Furthermore, they emphasized that these sweepstakes were free to enter, adhered to sweepstakes rules and regulations, and were verified before being posted. When the administrators presented evidence to Facebook showing that the giveaways were real, Facebook acknowledged the legitimacy of the giveaways but stated that there was nothing they could do to reverse the decision. Instead, Facebook advised the administrators to start a new page and spend money to advertise to gain "new" followers.
Following this directive, the administrators started a new page. However, Facebook removed this new page (https://www.facebook.com/FreebieMomVIP/) on March 2nd without any warning. This pattern of removal occurred despite the existence of hundreds of other Facebook pages that copied the Freebie Mom content and attempted to scam users. These copycat pages often told users they had won prizes and requested payment to obtain those prizes. The administrators reported these scam pages extensively but noted that they were rarely shut down. Examples of such pages include https://www.facebook.com/Freebie-moms-1949212471975974/?ref=brrs and https://www.facebook.com/Freebie-Moms-288914114861317/?ref=brrs. One of these copycat pages even posted links to the Freebie Mom website, and comments on the page indicated that the operators were messaging users while pretending to be the legitimate Freebie Mom administrators, likely asking for money. The administrators viewed it as unjust that the legitimate page was shut down while these scam pages continued to operate.
As a result of these actions, a petition was created on GoPetition titled "Get Freebie Mom back on Facebook." The petition, categorized under Internet, was written by Freebie Mom with the goal of having the Freebie Mom Facebook page reinstated. Additionally, the petition sought to compel Facebook to work with Freebie Mom to keep the Facebook community safe from scams. The petitioners argued that there were many pages pretending to be Freebie Mom that were sharing fake giveaways and scams, and that it was unjust to shut down the verified page while allowing those fraudulent pages to continue.
While the Freebie Mom situation highlights challenges with social media platforms, other sources of freebies and promotional offers for mothers exist. For example, various restaurants and brands have offered specific deals for Mother's Day. In the context of dining and food, several establishments have provided free meals or discounts. McDonald’s has offered free breakfasts at participating South Florida locations, including a breakfast sandwich or breakfast extra value meal with a choice of a small orange juice, coffee, or soft drink. This deal required no purchase but was dine-in only during breakfast hours, and mothers had to be accompanied by a child and order in the lobby. Miller’s Ale House offered free house wine or a Bloody Mary plus a $10 bonus card for moms who dined in at participating locations, though a meal purchase was required to receive the freebies. Ruth Chris Steak House provided a $25 credit for moms dining in on Saturday and Sunday, valid for a future purchase through July 2. Pollo Tropical offered a coupon for a whole chicken, rice and beans, and four rolls for $9.99, obtained by texting MOM2017 to 52198 or via email for club members. Tijuana Flats offered a free entrée for moms on Mother’s Day when they showed a specific Facebook post or an email coupon sent to members of the Flathead email club. Starbucks offered half-off Frappuccino blended beverages during a Happy Hour event.
Beyond restaurant deals, other promotional offers have included grocery store contests and cashback apps. Winn-Dixie held a contest to honor military moms, allowing customers to nominate moms by submitting 200 words or less on why they deserved recognition. Winners received a Beauty Basket and a $200 Winn-Dixie gift card. The cashback app Ibotta offered a "Mimosa for Mom" rebate, providing $5 cash back for purchasing a mimosa at any bar or restaurant. This required uploading an itemized receipt showing the mimosa purchase via the app. Once $20 in cashback was earned, funds could be transferred to PayPal or Venmo or redeemed for select gift cards.
Conclusion
The Freebie Mom case illustrates the complexities and potential disruptions that deal platforms can face when operating on social media. Despite verification processes and adherence to sweepstakes regulations, the legitimate Freebie Mom page was removed by Facebook due to alleged violations, while copycat scam pages persisted. This led to community backlash in the form of a petition seeking reinstatement and better collaboration with Facebook to combat fraud. In parallel, various consumer brands and restaurants frequently offer freebies and discounts, such as free meals for Mother's Day or cashback rebates via apps, providing alternative avenues for consumers to access value.