Instagram’s Privacy Policy: Rewritten, So Kids Can Understand It

It’s oft touted as the number one lie on the internet – “Yes, I have read the terms and conditions”. But knowing what you are agreeing to, especially in regards to rights and privacy of kid’s social media accounts – is vital.

Now imagine you’re a 13 year old on Instagram (there’s more of them than you think) – how do you even begin to make sense of the 5,000 words in those T&C’s? Well, a lawyer in the UK has made it all a bit simpler.

Here’s an example of some of the conditions in more child-friendly language:

– Officially you own any original pictures and videos you post, but we are allowed to use them, and we can let others use them as well, anywhere around the world. Other people might pay us to use them and we will not pay you for that.

– […] we may keep, use and share your personal information with companies connected with Instagram. This information includes your name, email address, school, where you live, pictures, phone number, your likes and dislikes, where you go, who your friends are, how often you use Instagram, and any other personal information we find such as your birthday or who you are chatting with, including in private messages (DMs).

– We might send you adverts connected to your interests which we are monitoring. You cannot stop us doing this and it will not always be obvious that it is an advert.

– We can change or end Instagram, or stop you accessing Instagram at any time, for any reason and without letting you know in advance. We can also delete posts and other content randomly, without telling you, for any reason. If we do this, we will not be responsible for paying out any money and you won’t have any right to complain.

– We can force you to give up your username for any reason.

– We can, but do not have to, remove, edit, block and/or monitor anything posted or any accounts that we think breaks any of these rules. We are not responsible if somebody breaks the law or breaks these rules; but if you break them, you are responsible.

The full re-write can be found in a report from the UK Children’s Commissioner, which also points out only people “with postgraduate levels of education” could properly understand the T&C’s as they stand.

[Quartz]


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