Your Instagram Snaps Are Yours Again
Instagram replies to new "terms of service" hoopla (Read more here / I'm guilty of fanning the flames myself) in which they changed the terms by which the images users uploaded unto the system - and everything is all right in the world of filtered online images again … or is it?
Overnight (literally, as Singapore is in a different timezone than the U.S.A), folks have reacted strongly, abandoning their Instagram accounts and even deleting them, while flocking to alternatives, like Pinterest and the "older" (and less fashionable) image hosting social site Flickr - who appeased members before about the copyright of their own images (I base that on the sheer number of added contacts ironically on my long dormant account). And seems the power of "social unity" has shone it's spotlight on the matter as well, and in turn we get a clarification and assurance:
[Ironically, the blank webpage is all I have been seeing for a long time now…]
TOYSREVIL-says: Retain your accounts in whatever cyber-locales wherever you might have signed on, in whatever situations. It might be harder to delete the content (compared to a much easier "Press Delete Account", of course), but keeping the account dormant is a better option, as you might have need to use it again later. Or in any case, use it to promote or direct viewers to the site you intend for people to focus on. Like a "directional sign" pointing to the venue where you might want folks to click-go-to.
What cut thru the bone of the matter, might have been this commentary posted on The Verge (written by Nilay Patel):
Why am I blogging about this instead of providing you, my dear readers, with judicious imagery of toys? Because a lot of artists and creators, and even brands use Instagrams to promote their own work/products (in lieu of emailing me, actually lol), and frankly the last thing you want, is for your products to be used by others - likened to being bootlegged, somewhat. Nevertheless, nothing is ever for free, in the long-run, innit?
Then this popped into mind: "Make Good Art" by Neil Gaiman - to which we might add: "Online image hosting sources steal your pics?"
Overnight (literally, as Singapore is in a different timezone than the U.S.A), folks have reacted strongly, abandoning their Instagram accounts and even deleting them, while flocking to alternatives, like Pinterest and the "older" (and less fashionable) image hosting social site Flickr - who appeased members before about the copyright of their own images (I base that on the sheer number of added contacts ironically on my long dormant account). And seems the power of "social unity" has shone it's spotlight on the matter as well, and in turn we get a clarification and assurance:
Advertising on Instagram: "From the start, Instagram was created to become a business. Advertising is one of many ways that Instagram can become a self-sustaining business, but not the only one. Our intention in updating the terms was to communicate that we’d like to experiment with innovative advertising that feels appropriate on Instagram. Instead it was interpreted by many that we were going to sell your photos to others without any compensation. This is not true and it is our mistake that this language is confusing. To be clear: it is not our intention to sell your photos. We are working on updated language in the terms to make sure this is clear.'
Ownership Rights: 'Instagram users own their content and Instagram does not claim any ownership rights over your photos. Nothing about this has changed. We respect that there are creative artists and hobbyists alike that pour their heart into creating beautiful photos, and we respect that your photos are your photos. Period.'
~ Kevin Systrom co-founder, Instagram (Dec 19, 9am SG-time)
[Ironically, the blank webpage is all I have been seeing for a long time now…]
TOYSREVIL-says: Retain your accounts in whatever cyber-locales wherever you might have signed on, in whatever situations. It might be harder to delete the content (compared to a much easier "Press Delete Account", of course), but keeping the account dormant is a better option, as you might have need to use it again later. Or in any case, use it to promote or direct viewers to the site you intend for people to focus on. Like a "directional sign" pointing to the venue where you might want folks to click-go-to.
What cut thru the bone of the matter, might have been this commentary posted on The Verge (written by Nilay Patel):
"The real lesson here isn't about Instagram - it's about how little we trust Facebook"And while I might not necessarily wholly agree with the statement above, I do agree with this:
"Instagram screwed up royally by not explaining these terms in any way"In this day and cyber-age, where "informational facts" falls to secondary importance compared to "speed of information-delivery", it has become increasingly crucial that actions and changes are doled out alongside explanations of said acts and changes, failing which, websites will speculate, or dissect and interpret, and users will act as quick. Much less folks like myself, who wake up a few hours later to see the turbulent waters of information, now subsided … until the next big hoopla, of course.
Why am I blogging about this instead of providing you, my dear readers, with judicious imagery of toys? Because a lot of artists and creators, and even brands use Instagrams to promote their own work/products (in lieu of emailing me, actually lol), and frankly the last thing you want, is for your products to be used by others - likened to being bootlegged, somewhat. Nevertheless, nothing is ever for free, in the long-run, innit?
Then this popped into mind: "Make Good Art" by Neil Gaiman - to which we might add: "Online image hosting sources steal your pics?"
