While Instagrams playful filters and photo-centric design has earned it a spot in the upper echelons of popular social media sites, recent news may make some users wary of the trendy social media site and their privacy using the service.
First, artist Richard Prince took users' Instagram posts without permission, many of which depicted women often in risqu poses, added his comment to the bottom, and hung them in galleries, where he sold some of them for up to $100,000.
While no lawsuits have been brought against Prince, Jeff John Robert reported for Fortune that it is likely just a matter of time before his actions are challenged in court, even though the users of the stolen photos may not have a case.
Citing the New Yorkers art critic, (copyright lawyer Charles Colman) says that Prince is making a social comment on voyeuristic social media culture, and that Princes Instagram display is a repurposing akin to what artists like Andy Warhol and Marcel Duchamp did before him, Robert reported.
To add insult to injury for Instagram, Patrick Smith reported for Buzzfeed News the complex tale of one user whose photos, and by extent life, were re-posted by a still unknown user to create a new identity.
Instagram user Ruth Palmers photos were taken and posted under one account and used to build a fictitious, and surprisingly well-followed, life even though Palmers account was private.
These recent stories are sure to make some Instagram users hesitant about updating their accounts and sharing their images to the site, even though Instagram has long maintained that the users own the photos they post.
Instagram users own their content and Instagram does not claim any ownership rights over your photos, Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom said in a statement. 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.
Instagram also has privacy settings that allow a users posts to only be seen by people they allow to follow them. The social media site encourages users to create strong passwords and follow basic Internet safety practices.
Even though it doesnt provide the greatest comfort, safety guides posted by Instagram recommend users be careful with what they post, which seems to be the go-to advice for using social media.
Remember (your Instagram account) can keep on representing you well into the future, because content posted online or with phones is pretty impossible to take back. So its a good idea to think about how what you post now will reflect on you down the line. If you think it might hurt a job prospect, damage a relationship or upset your grandmother, consider not sharing it.
First, artist Richard Prince took users' Instagram posts without permission, many of which depicted women often in risqu poses, added his comment to the bottom, and hung them in galleries, where he sold some of them for up to $100,000.
While no lawsuits have been brought against Prince, Jeff John Robert reported for Fortune that it is likely just a matter of time before his actions are challenged in court, even though the users of the stolen photos may not have a case.
Citing the New Yorkers art critic, (copyright lawyer Charles Colman) says that Prince is making a social comment on voyeuristic social media culture, and that Princes Instagram display is a repurposing akin to what artists like Andy Warhol and Marcel Duchamp did before him, Robert reported.
To add insult to injury for Instagram, Patrick Smith reported for Buzzfeed News the complex tale of one user whose photos, and by extent life, were re-posted by a still unknown user to create a new identity.
Instagram user Ruth Palmers photos were taken and posted under one account and used to build a fictitious, and surprisingly well-followed, life even though Palmers account was private.
These recent stories are sure to make some Instagram users hesitant about updating their accounts and sharing their images to the site, even though Instagram has long maintained that the users own the photos they post.
Instagram users own their content and Instagram does not claim any ownership rights over your photos, Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom said in a statement. 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.
Instagram also has privacy settings that allow a users posts to only be seen by people they allow to follow them. The social media site encourages users to create strong passwords and follow basic Internet safety practices.
Even though it doesnt provide the greatest comfort, safety guides posted by Instagram recommend users be careful with what they post, which seems to be the go-to advice for using social media.
Remember (your Instagram account) can keep on representing you well into the future, because content posted online or with phones is pretty impossible to take back. So its a good idea to think about how what you post now will reflect on you down the line. If you think it might hurt a job prospect, damage a relationship or upset your grandmother, consider not sharing it.
