Online Policy Prime

1. Policy Primer for Instagram
Pochi
Curtin University

2. Introduction
• Online social media websites have gained an astounding worldwide growth and
popularity, especially among the younger generation.
• Other notable sites : Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Instagram, LinkedIn, and
Pinterest.
• Each site has its own ‘Terms of Use’ which users agree to before gaining access to
the social platform.
• Many people do not find time to read the ‘Terms of Use’, and thus, have no idea
that some policies can harm their privacy, content, and information.
• In this presentation, we will consider the Terms of Use of one of the most active
social media websites, Instagram.

3. What Is Instagram?
• Instagram is an online social networking service
through which users can share video and pictures.
• It allows registered users to instantly capture and
share the images they find fascinating.
• Instagram was launched in 2010 (Lagorio-Chafkin,
2012).
• Presently, Instagram is among the most popular
social media sites with approximately 150 million
registered users.

4. Instagram’s Terms of Use and Policies
• Persons planning to use the Instagram App are
expected to comply to the Terms of Use. These
include:
Being at least 13 years of age
Creating only one personal account
Only uploading content that he or she has rights to
own and use
Providing accurate and correct information

5. Instagram’s Terms of Use and Policies contd.
Not uploading any violent, nude, pornographic, unlawful, or
sexually suggestive photos
Complying with international laws, including copyright laws
Not submitting sensitive information such as credit card
numbers or social security numbers
To not abuse, stalk, defame, harass, threaten, intimidate, and
impersonate others (Instagram, 2015)

6. What Instagram’s Terms of Use Denote
• Instagram’s Terms of Use show that persons are
responsible for any activities, conducts, and
contents that they submit, post, or display on the
site.
• They also show that people’s use of Instagram can
be put at their risk because Instagram does not
accept any responsibility for all content uploaded
or shared.
• Users have to agree that any violation of the
defined Terms of Use may lead to the deletion of
their accounts without any notification.

7. Users’ Information Collected by Instagram Indirectly
• Instagram collects various forms of information from
an user’s account indirectly during the use of the
Instagram App. These include:
The account holder’s email address, username, and
password
Particulars such as official names, date of birth,
gender, and telephone number

8. Users’ Information Collected by Instagram Indirectly contd.
Users content such as photos and comments
Metadata such as hashtags and geotags
Internet Protocol (IP) addresses
Information on the types of devices and browsers
used
Durations spent on the App (Instagram, 2015).

9. Issues Related to Instagram’s Terms of Use and
Users’ Information and Privacy
• From Instagram’s Terms of Use, it is clear that in the
event of anything, an account holder is solely
responsible.
• So Do account holders own the content now that
they are solely responsible for everything they
upload and share?
• The answer is YES. Instagram does not claim the
ownership of an account holder’s content.
• However, an Instagram user grants the site a non-
exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, and
worldwide license to use such content.

10. Issues Related to Instagram’s Terms of Use and
Users’ Information and Privacy (cont.)
• Instagram can use all information submitted by users freely without
notifying the concerned owners of such use.
• Instagram can also use information collected in the course of using the
Instagram App.
• Such information is sold to advertising companies and other interested
third parties.
• Even though Instagram claims to have no responsibility for users’
content and privacy, they retain the rights to edit, delete, block, and
monitor accounts and content.

11. Controversies on Instagram’s Terms of Use
• Instagram updated its Terms of Use to include a requirement
that users would have to pay a fee for their usernames,
photos, and metadata to be displayed.
• The company intended to use users’ pictures and content for
its revenue-generating uses.
• After outrage, Instagram abandoned this controversial
change.

12. What Instagram Users Should Know
• The user owns all the content they upload and
share on Instagram.
• Agreeing to the company’s Terms of Use and later
posting content means Instagram is allowed to use
the information in every way they wish, such as
through advertisements, and with no notice or
request for permission (Bolson, 2013).
• Users are not paid when Instagram uses their
information.
• Instagram has a right to change the Terms of Use
without notifying the users.

13. What Instagram Users Should Do
•Review the Terms of Use before blindly agreeing
to them as well as other social media platforms’
fine print.

14. Conclusion
•Instagram is a great visualization social
media platform due to its engagement
through pictures.
•However, Instagram’s Terms of use should be
read by intended users before signing up.

15. Reference
Bolson, A. (2013). Important lessons from the Instagram controversy.
Imedia Connection. Retrieved from
http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/34249.asp
Business2Community. (2015). Twitter-facebook-logos-hed [Image].
Retrieved from http://www.business2community.com/instagram/6-
compelling-reasons-why-your-business-should-use-instagram-for-marketing-
01324097#YsdrVwOHXkMaHh1H.97
Instagram. (2015). Terms of use. Retrieved from
https://web.facebook.com/help/instagram/478745558852511
Lagorio-Chafkin, C. (2012). Kevin Systrom and Mike Kriegrt, founders
of Instagram. Inc. Retreieved from
http://www.inc.com/30under30/2011/profile-kevin-systrom- mike-
krieger-founders-instagram.html
Mullen Lowe. (2015). Instagram [Image]. Retrieved from
http://www.mullenloweus.com/tag/instagram/