Everyone’s favorite image-mucker-upper, Instagram, just updated their Terms of Usage. This is a pretty important one, especially if you don’t want the pics you upload to be used in advertising by Instagram, or sold to 3rd parties.
You agree that a business … may pay us to display your photos in connection with paid or sponsored content … without any compensation to you.
Now that Instagram is owned by Facebook and now that Facebook has shareholders, keep an eye out for how this “free social network” starts trying to find ways to monetize your content. If you’re ok with Instagram using your pics – e.g. of your business, of your inventory, etc. – then continue on with Instagram. Also know that all of the content you’ve uploaded thus far, Instagram can do with it what they please:
If we terminate your access to the Service or you use the form detailed above to deactivate your account, your photos, comments, likes, friendships, and all other data will no longer be accessible through your account (e.g., users will not be able to navigate to your username and view your photos), but those materials and data may persist and appear within the Service (e.g., if your Content has been reshared by others).
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Update 8:12 PM Eastern 12/18/2012: Instagram’s terms are still as follows:
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Update 12:19 AM Eastern 12/19/2012: National Geographic has suspended posting to their Instagram account and may close it: