Personal Data Guidelines for Instagram

[Acorn Newsbot]

Instagram – is there any better way to share your life story than through photography?

People have been doing it ever since the medium was first created. Photos evoke memories, nostalgia, and feelings about loved ones both past and present.

But how would it make you feel if someone gained unauthorised access to those images? What is they started associating your online photos with unsavoury activity or even used your own image or artwork without asking? Photography is data in just the same way as something written down.

Instagram throws up a whole new debate when it comes to ownership of imagery and some people have been left feeling stung due to their love of what is basically an online photo filter app.

Can you really trust Instagram?
You currently own the copyright to your photo on Instagram. A massive ruckus ensued when Instagram tried to change the policy meaning they could use any image uploaded for their own publicity purposes. A celebrity backlash, including a Twitter onslaught from Kim Kardashian, means they have retreated but it does throw up the question – how much can you actually trust Instagram? Or any other social network for that matter?

Keep your photos personal
You wouldn’t decorate the outside of your house with thousands of pictures of friends and family – so why would you do it online? By simply flicking the ‘Photos are private’ switch on Instagram, people will need to send you a request to be able to view them. This gives you more control and means you and your images stay private and safer.

Block any suspicious users
If you come across anyone behaving suspiciously on Instagram there is the option to instantly block them, which even prevents them being able to search for your profile online. An easy way to guarantee invisibility from online crooks operating. Ensure you also report them to prevent them from causing problems for anyone else.

Disable the photo map
Wow that’s really clever – with all those photos you are posting from your home location I can see lots of lovely laptops, TV’s and jewellery to steal in the background. And as you never post pictures at home from 9-5 Monday to Friday it’s a safe bet that would be the best time to break in.

If someone wants to spy on your movements following when your photos are posted and where your posts are taken can give a very clear map of what you do where and when. To prevent anyone from being able to follow you this closely, you can disable the Photo Map function on Instagram meaning your location will never appear when you take photos.

Report spammers and inappropriate behaviour
Social networks are a playground for spammers who only operate to make other people’s lives a misery. Instagram has a duty of care to its users to remove these individuals from the site, so if you see anything unsavoury report it immediately. The same goes for inappropriate photos you come across – they are normally hiding an ulterior motive.

Instagram is a great way to show some artistic flair and take some creative shots but it’s worth remembering that any tool that has access to personal data should be treated with care.








More...