From Instagram to Instagroan

When it comes to policy changes, Instagram could have used a filter of its own. Its usually devoted users threatened to delete their accounts en masse yesterday if the popular photo-sharing app did not roll back new terms of service that appeared to give the company ownership of their images. Instagram users — about 100 million now — snap the photos on their smartphones, apply digital filters to enhance the photos, and then instantly share them with friends. But Instagram's new terms of service, which were announced on Monday, included a clause stating that Instagram had the right to turn images into advertisements without any approval from or compensation for users starting January 16 — proof that the world's not ending on Friday, and part of Facebook's drive to make money from the service it bought this year for US$715 million in cash and stock. And yes, Instagram are in on the whole conspiracy. Founder Kevin Systrom tried to calm the uproar and reassure users in a blog post yesterday afternoon. "Instagram does not claim any ownership rights over your photos," he wrote. "We respect that your photos are your photos. Period." I don't buy that one bit. So if you're on Instagram, then I advise you to get out before it's too late.