Instagram Doesn’t Deserve The Hate

Taken From My Instagram

Recently, Instagram updated its privacy policy much to the displeasure of its users.

Basically, a photo you upload, while you still have ownership, can be used by Instagram for advertisements without any compensation to the owner of the photo.

Thousands of users are vitriolic over this change, mostly because it is symbolic of Instagram’s newfound relationship with Facebook, who bought them earlier this year. You think Facebook, you think privacy issues.

I, for one, will not be deleting my account anytime soon, and for one simple reason: Instagram is free.

Honestly, why should I get paid for Instagram using my photo to acquire more users? I didn’t set the service up. I didn’t put the man hours and engineering smarts into providing a totally free space for users to upload photos quickly on a popular platform.

Instagram owes me nothing. I downloaded the app for free and enjoy it daily. The least we users can do is allow Instagram to share our public photos with other people to let them know how great the service is.

Obviously, many people disagree with me on this, and that’s fine. Legally, Instagram will be fine because this policy change is transparent and you agree to terms and conditions. Those upset with the service are at least responding correctly by shutting down their accounts.

In other words, they are taking to heart the old idiom, “If you don’t like it, don’t use it.”

On the flipside, this is bound to create some negative publicity, resulting in Instagram losing more accounts than they would have gained from the advertising. So, I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if they apologized and rescinded this practice. If they don’t, I won’t lose any sleep.

Like what you read? Connect with me further via twitter @JonNegroni. I’ll follow back if you seem like a real person.

Don’t forget to check out THE JON REPORT every day, updated at 8am for a list of today’s main headlines as selected by my editorial team (me) 

4 thoughts on “Instagram Doesn’t Deserve The Hate

  1. I was thinking of joining and won’t now. I am tired to my bones of facebooks attitude, using people as commodities. I would much, much rather pay a yearly fee and not be treated as such.

  2. Which is the correct way to respond to this. If you want a good photo hosting service without the red tape, there are plenty of priced options. For those of us who just want post photos easily, this is no problem.

  3. I think that the future is scary if companies continue this way. A lot of questions need to be asked about the long term intentions of things like this. Read my less serious thoughts on the issue over on my blog http://www.irkitated.blogspot.com.au 

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