The Beginning Of The End?
Recently, Instagram announced new Terms of Use that might scare away a great many users… myself included. You all know I love IG and while I’ve had a great time with the app – and have written about how the app should be used – I find their new terms of use absolutely frightening. The New York Times tech blog ‘Bits’ has a more expansive write up on this but here are the things that scare me the most.
1. Not Only Can IG Share Information About You With Facebook (its parent company) But Also With Outside Entities
There may be links from the Service, or from communications you receive from the Service, to third-party web sites or features. There may also be links to third-party web sites or features in images or comments within the Service. The Service also includes third-party content that we do not control, maintain or endorse. Functionality on the Service may also permit interactions between the Service and a third-party web site or feature, including applications that connect the Service or your profile on the Service with a third-party web site or feature.
You acknowledge that we may not always identify paid services, sponsored content, or commercial communications as such.
You know how Facebook kinda sucks now because of all the ads that appear interspersed throughout your newsfeed… yeah, get ready for that or something to that effect on IG. Imagine scrolling through all of your friends recently updated pictures and finding a random fake IG update from Pepsi or Chick fil A.
2. You Own Your Pictures – Sort Of – But So Does Instagram – Sort Of
Instagram does not claim ownership of any Content that you post on or through the Service. Instead, you hereby grant to Instagram a non-exclusive, fully paid and royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, worldwide license to use the Content that you post on or through the Service, except that you can control who can view certain of your Content and activities on the Service as described in the Service’s Privacy Policy
Some or all of the Service may be supported by advertising revenue. To help us deliver interesting paid or sponsored content or promotions, you agree that a business or other entity may pay us to display your username, likeness, photos (along with any associated metadata), and/or actions you take, in connection with paid or sponsored content or promotions, without any compensation to you.
Yup – you read that right. Instagram can officially take any photo you upload and use it however they see fit. Imagine watching the superbowl this year and seeing an ad where that awesome picture you took with your homies is featured prominently. By using IG after Jan. 16 – you’re essentially granting them license to do anything they want with the pictures you upload after that point. What if you’re a photographer who uploads their pics to Instagram to show people how awesome a photographer you are. Imagine IG using your one of a kind stuff with no attribution and without you receiving a single dime. Kinda sucks.
3. Only Way Around These Terms Of Use Is To Not Use Instagram
As the New York Times writes in Bits:
“The only way to opt out of the new Instagram terms is to not use the service. If you log into Instagram in any way, including through the Web site, mobile applications or any other services offered by Instagram, you agree to have your content used in ads. Instagram’s new terms of service say that ‘by accessing or using the Instagram website, the Instagram service, or any applications (including mobile applications) made available by Instagram (together, the “Service”), however accessed, you agree to be bound by these terms of use.'”
So what say you my fellow IG addicts? You planning to stick with the site or move on to the next big thing is social media – whatever that might be?
Not as low… but still firing
It was fun while it lasted.
Saw the article on cnet and immediately deleted my account…
Welp!!! I guess all those half naked ppl on Instagram are going to be in for a shock when they see their pics in a late night commercial for the party line or “1800-dirty talk”. SMH Twitter is the only thing left. It was fun
I'm in the process of deleting all of mine and deleting my account right now.
I may leave the account with a single picture of me giving the middle finger and saying "Not everything should be about money."
i guess i could see your point…
but i just see instagram…as a business, trying to make money. by any means.
now do i have a problem with them sharing user info with 3rd parties? yes, to me, that might be a problem. and personal pictures being used might be an issue…for example, my picture being used to sell a dating site (like how they do on facebook…or maybe that's just my page)
but i take random pictures, i'm not a professional photographer. if i was, none of my pics i take, would end up on instagram, unless it was a throwaway to get people to my site. i mean, if instagram can make ad revenue money off the picture of the cat sleeping next to my house, or the tree down at my job due to sandy…have at it, lol.
if another photo sharing program comes along…i might just ship, but not for this. but if you roll out, there is also Via.Me (you can post videos and pictures and gifs i believe) and i believe IOS have CinemaGram (some name like that) where you can post .gif files or small movie files.
Are you going to remove your other social media presences because they do it as well.
My recent post Murci, Murci Me
Deleted mine!
My recent post [Album Review] TI – Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head by @The_ProDEUCEr
I’m not going to delete the program all together, but I’m did remove all the pics of my son. Even though they just came out with a backpedal statement – if my son is going to be a gerber baby, he sure as hell is going to be paid for it!
I heard that this was all a rumor… update?
Me personallly, I couldn't care less. I believe many people are well within their rights to delete their accounts and be able to protect their privacy by any means possible. However, as in most cases such as this, I believe people go to the extreme rather quickly and automatically assume "worst-case scenario" outcomes. Many people (self-included at times) have a higher sense of self-worth to the general public than it really is. Rather this be the case than the opposite, of course, which is why I don't knock anyone deleting their account. I just wont be one of them.