Facebook/Instagram New Policy Allows Them To Sell Your Photos With No Compensation to YOU.

Instagram, which is entirely owned by Facebook, recently announced a new policy that allows them to use any images you upload to their service. If they’re doing this on Instagram, it’s only a matter of time before it’s in place on Facebook. You can read a snipit of the new Terms and Conditions below. I’ve also included a link for the full Terms and Conditions.

Part of paragraph #2 under Rights of the new Terms and Conditions. “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. If you are under the age of eighteen (18), or under any other applicable age of majority, you represent that at least one of your parents or legal guardians has also agreed to this provision (and the use of your name, likeness, username, and/or photos (along with any associated metadata)) on your behalf.”

I can’t believe what I’m reading. Not only is this a slap in the face for people who make their living at marketing their images, but now also Facebook/Instagram can take your newborn baby’s image and use it in an ad for Gerber – without your permission and no compensation! What The Heck kind of ripoff is this? You may recall my recent article about publishers removing Contact Information formally known as Metadata from our pictures. In that article I failed to mention that Facebook is one of the biggest offenders. Even if you insert contact/metadata information into your images (which you should all do when you upload to Facebook and/or Instagram), it is all stripped out when the photo is uploaded. I don’t know for sure about Instagram since I ‘m not a member of their service, but I’ve checked Facebook and all of the photos I upload with metadata/contact info have had it stripped from the uploaded version. All photographers and parents alike should complain LOUDLY to Facebook on this miserable new rule in order to have them change their terms and conditions of the Instagram service.

If they don’t back off of this ludicrous policy change  for Instagram we’ll be leaving Facebook for good. You’ll find us on Google+ – who does not have these same draconian policies. Stand up and send an email with your thoughts to Your Home Page Suggestion.