Chicken bald back

[majorbloodnock]

Here's an article on the BBC site which gives a very clear account of changes Facebook is making to what it can do with photos people post to its photo-sharing site, Instagram. Since the changes are in Facebook's privacy policy - the details of which many may well not check thoroughly - I thought those of you affected might appreciate being made aware. What it boils down to is that if you have any photos on Instagram and don't want them sold on by Facebook, you need to delete your account by 16th January. There is no option to keep your account and opt out.

 

Bluntly, it underlines the concept that if you want something kept private you shouldn't put it online. Despite my working in IT, I never cease to be amazed at the cynicism of many major online companies.

[The Dogmother]

Thanks Major, yet another reason NOT to have facebook.

[snowberry]

What is instagram?

[majorbloodnock]

@Snowberry, if you buy into this whole social networking thing, you may well wish to share certain pictures (such as photos) with others in your network. Instagram is a successful image sharing web site, and Facebook bought them so they could include image sharing in their portfolio of offerings. Now, in order to recoup what they spent, they're looking for ways to make money out of the Instagram stuff, and their latest idea is, as the previously mentioned BBC article says, to muscle in on people's intellectual property rights and sell their users' photos.

 

@DM, I couldn't agree more. I do happen to have an account on a professional networking site, but I do absolutely nothing regarding personal social networking at all. I don't have a Facebook account, and I don't have a Twitter account. I don't have a smartphone, and I've never had a Hotmail, Google or similar email address. I've searched far and wide, and am happy I can find no online images of either me or my family (though of course there are no guarantees). I'm happy to forego my fifteen minutes of fame, thanks.

[patsylabrador]

It's good fun actually. Most of my pictures are scenic and it's nice to share them with people from around the world. I get to see where they visit and they get to see where I visit. Photos of historic sites in GB are appreciated abroad. My skills at photography are poor so I don't think facebook will be using them. It's friendly and can be as big or small as you wish. I regard social networking as a modern version of having penpals. Not much different to this forum really.

[The Dogmother]

Do bear in mind folks that tags on photos or social networking sites will advertise when you're not at home and you home is less well guarded than usual - there's a new spate of 'social burglaries' going around at the moment where people are 'watched' via twitter and the like.

 

Please don't post that you are on holiday or going to Aunty Ida's for Christmas as it draw attention to the fact that your property is empty.

[majorbloodnock]

It's good fun actually. Most of my pictures are scenic and it's nice to share them with people from around the world. I get to see where they visit and they get to see where I visit. Photos of historic sites in GB are appreciated abroad. My skills at photography are poor so I don't think facebook will be using them. It's friendly and can be as big or small as you wish. I regard social networking as a modern version of having penpals. Not much different to this forum really.

I'd perhaps liken it more to having penpals, but only corresponding whilst on a crowded commuter train where everyone can see your screen (and do so whenever they like), and whilst agreeing that the Royal Mail (and the mail companies in the destination countries) can choose to sell on whatever you post to selected advertisers so they can tempt you. However, I'd also point out that in return for this, you'd be able to send those penpal letters for free.

 

Some may be happy with that arrangement. Some may not. Me, I put a high value on my privacy, so I wouldn't touch this with a bargepole. Nonetheless, I'm not so bothered about the cost/privacy tradeoff as making sure anyone affected is aware a tradeoff is now about to happen.

[Lewis]

http://blog.instagram.com/post/38252135408/thank-you-and-were-listening

 

I think some people jumped a bit too quickly and misinterpreted the information given...

The Instagram user owns their content, they will not be sold by Facebook or used in advert campaigns etc.

 

I really like the service, think its fun, nice to see other photos and keep in contact with the rest of the world, especially this Summer with the Olympics and everything else what has happened.

Yes you do sometimes need to be careful about what you put on there and there is also the option to keep your photos private.

[The Dogmother]

Looks like they've changed their tack after all the bad press.

[soapdragon]

I have a real 'thing' about this! IMHO too many people/organisations have too much informationm about too many of us! I make a point of never giving away more than absolutley necessary. I don't twit or facebook and, when filling in forms, often leave bits blank on the basis that its none of their damn business anyway!

 

Maybe I am just paranoid but it often feels that everyone wants to know everything; I am sure its all to do with marketing As far as I am concerned, Big Brother can just mind his own business

 

Rant over; thank you!

[patsylabrador]

I have to say and sorry if it offends but as much as I love this forum it's very open and I don't get why people use it who have issues with social networking. We are all careless on here because it feels so friendly but hoping not to sound like a weird stalker, I know a lot more about people and their lives through this forum than maybe they would wish. I also use twitter, instagram and foursquare which can be locked and the user has some control over who looks at the information they are sharing. Not so on here, which I frequently see the mods have to remind people.

[The Dogmother]

I think that what sums it up for me is that I like to choose what information Is available and how I make it available; i don' like how some media make that decision for you.

[majorbloodnock]

I have to say and sorry if it offends but as much as I love this forum it's very open and I don't get why people use it who have issues with social networking. We are all careless on here because it feels so friendly but hoping not to sound like a weird stalker, I know a lot more about people and their lives through this forum than maybe they would wish. I also use twitter, instagram and foursquare which can be locked and the user has some control over who looks at the information they are sharing. Not so on here, which I frequently see the mods have to remind people.

I know exactly what you mean, and it's a good point (not in the slightest offensive). However, use of this forum, just like social networking (or any other form of social interaction, for that matter) is not a binary thing. Personally, I don't have an issue with social networking, but do have a big issue with my privacy. Since I'm very protective about details of my private life, and very reticent to post tangible personal details, that means I've little practical use for social networking applications except in a professional capacity.

 

I do use this forum quite extensively, of course, and I'm happy to do so because I'm well aware of how public what I post actually is. If one were to search my posts, they would find, though, that I've actually divulged almost nothing that could be traced back to me as an individual, and very few forum members even know who I am. As a result, whilst my public appearance is quite open, I'm actually as anonymous now as I was when I first joined.

 

Obviously, not all forum members or social networkers are like that, and I'll admit I am frequently astounded at just how much real personal information is sometimes divulged on the Internet. However, so long as it's a free choice made by the person whose information it is, then it's not my place to judge.

[Olly]

I have to say and sorry if it offends but as much as I love this forum it's very open and I don't get why people use it who have issues with social networking. We are all careless on here because it feels so friendly but hoping not to sound like a weird stalker, I know a lot more about people and their lives through this forum than maybe they would wish. I also use twitter, instagram and foursquare which can be locked and the user has some control over who looks at the information they are sharing. Not so on here, which I frequently see the mods have to remind people.

 

I couldn't agree more. I use Facebook, and I love it, but I am choosy about who I accept as a 'friend' and I am careful about my privacy settings. Please, please remember that this forum is OPEN - anyone can read it, not just members. Also, we feel that we 'know' people through correspondence on here, but in fact they may be presenting a persona that is exaggerated or even completely fake.

 

Familiarity breeds contempt, and just because most of us use the internet every day and suffer no ill effects, we quickly forget the risks involved. You'd be amazed at how often Mods have to remove personal details, or offer a gentle reminder that if you're posting about a dispute/family problem/legal issue, the other people involved could very easily read what you have written on here.

[Egluntyne]

Ditto to Olly's post.

[gongladosh]

It's nice of Instagram to tell us we've all got it wrong...

 

(not backpedalling then)