Online photo-sharing social network Instagram gave its users quite a scare this past Monday (December 17), after implementing new terms of service which included a user policy stating they could use personal photos for advertisements without consent. Responding to a heavy influx of criticism, Instagram has backpedaled from the earlier terms and now says that the millions of personal photos on their vast network will not be curated for profit.
The terms of service released on Monday were clear in saying that users would have to agree to let their photos, likeness, username and other pertinent data to be used without compensation. The rules left a bad taste in the mouths of Instagram fans, which number over 100 million. Looking to save face, Instagram founder Kevin Systrom responded on Tuesday (December 18) via a blog posting in a last-ditch effort to reassure users that their photos were safe from sale. “I always want you to feel comfortable sharing your photos on Instagram and we will always work hard to foster and respect our community and go out of our way to support its rights,” wrote Systrom.
Purchased for $1 billion by Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg in April of this year, users of the fan favorite photo app took to social media to voice their concerns, with many calling for a boycott of the company. Systrom has been making the media rounds, including appearing this earlier today on CBS This Morning to help clear the air.
For now, it appears you won’t have to take down that photo of your co-workers dropping it like it’s hot at the office Christmas party.
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Photo: Instagram
- photo: instagram
