Deadline day is hitting Instagram. Will a post on your feed actually protect your data from being used against you in court? Let’s find out.
If you scrolled through your Instagram feed within the last week, you may have come across a post like this:
This “contract” popped up on hundreds of thousands of account across the app. Users who posted this picture ranged from everyday users to celebrities.
Some of the high profile “posters” include:
Judd Apatow, Julianne Moore, Julia Roberts, Debra Messing, Taraji p Henson, Beyoncé’s mom, and Wacka Flocka Flame (via @TaylorLorenz on Twitter).
This lead to the post spreading fear and confusion across the platform.
Now, you may be wondering what the reason behind posting the paragraph was. Why is everyone reposting it? Let’s break it down.
Deadline Day
To begin, the now coined, “meme” began circulating around various social media platforms within the last week. However, it surfaced predominantly on Instagram.
The text on the post claims that Instagram will be capable of the following due to a new privacy policy.
The post claims that Instagram will be able to:
- Make posts and DMs public
- Posted information can be used against you in litigation
- Deleted posts and DMs become public property of Instagram
Many accounts that posted the image claim that the creation of a new privacy policy is the reason why users should post the contract. They want to protect themselves from the application.
In Reality…
All of the assumptions surrounding this post are false. Instagram did not change its privacy policy. Nor does it plan on publicizing user information.
The post with text is a hoax, and now, many see it as a meme.
To explain, this type of privacy hoax resurfaces every few years in order to scare users into reposting the so called “privacy protection contract”.
In reality, you can’t blame a user for wanting to protect their privacy. But, when a user feels the need to repost the statement to their account, it propagates the fear.
The hoax continues to spread, thus giving the person responsible for creating it, the satisfaction they were looking for. While also causing confusion and the spread of misinformation.
Technically Speaking
The head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri (@Mosseri) released a statement on his verified Instagram account in hopes of clearing the air.
Heads up! If you’re seeing a meme claiming that Instagram is changing its rules tomorrow, it’s not true.
Users are beginning to realize that the meme being posted by so many is a hoax. Could a post on your account actually protect you in a court of law? The answer is no.
All in all, now that the realization is coming to light, the meme will most likely stop circulating. Although, if it is given enough time, I’m sure in a year or two, such post will resurface once more.
So, If you are one to worry about privacy, it’s important to take a look at the privacy policy of applications you choose to use.
A silly “contract” made into a Instagram post won’t ever protect your information. But knowledge of what applications and social media platforms you choose to post on, will.
Now, can we all go back to liking pictures of puppies? Thanks.
By Taylor Ritchey
Check out our article on how Instagram chooses ads for you!