Instagram Changes the Rules
Posted on December, 18, 2012 by Kerry Rego -
Did you hear that Instagram changed it’s privacy policy and terms of use? They can now sell your images (they might not), put you in an advertisement on Instagram or Facebook (their mother company) or elsewhere, and they can serve you advertising without full disclosure. This all goes into effect Jan. 16, 2013.
I feel like they pulled the rug out from underneath all of their users. There’s no way to opt out of this new wrinkle other than deleting your account. If you do so before Jan. 16, your images are safe from the new terms. While they say they don’t own user uploaded content, users “hereby grant to Instagram a non-exclusive, fully paid and royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, worldwide license to use the Content that you post on or through the Service.”
It used to be that advertisers would have to ask explicit permission to use content, that is no longer the case. Your face or images could end up on a billboard or on a Facebook ad. You have no control over that and will receive no compensation or credit.
Did I mention that minors are not exempt?!? By signing up to use the service, they are acknowledging that a parent has agreed to let them use Instagram and that their content may be used for advertising purposes. Because you know that teens ask their parents before downloading and using an app. Secondly, I will bet that neither teens nor parents will really understand the impact of this change.
I want to know why they can change their rules mid stream? I will hear back from lawyer friend later today but I know she’s not going to have anything to say that will make me happy.
My view is that everything you say, do, and post is public information. But I really don’t like the games they are playing with people that don’t understand their legal rights and when they are being ruthlessly taken away. I’ve never been a privacy advocate but this one takes the cake. The fact that minors are being taken advantage of is the part that really gets me worked up.
If you want to be exempt from this, delete your account. If you keep it, know that pictures of you or your children are fair game.
UPDATE:
So shortly after I wrote this blog, Instagram backpedaled.
“Our intention in updating the terms was to communicate that we’d like to experiment with innovative advertising that feels appropriate on Instagram. Instead it was interpreted by many that we were going to sell your photos to others without any compensation. This is not true and it is our mistake that this language is confusing. To be clear: it is not our intention to sell your photos. We are working on updated language in the terms to make sure this is clear.”
When I spoke to a lawyer about it, I expressed that what I think is a major concern for users is that while it is a public platform, no one wants to feel like a product. Offering your content for free is one thing but if Instagram were to try to make a profit off of their user’s images, it would upset many of them. This is what I think Instragram feels the need to clear up.
UUCSR Writer’s Forum Presentation
Posted on October, 09, 2011 by Kerry Rego -“How digital platforms are affecting the writer and the publishing process”
I discussed the variety of ways that your writing can be released to the reading public, including the explosion of self publishing options, how the differing cultures of internet niches effects writing styles and skills as well as crowdsourcing your efforts. Georgette G. deBlois asked me to speak at the UUCSR Writer’s Forum “From Chaucer to Tweets” 10/8/11 and I was honored. Below are my notes for the audience that wanted more information or those that may have missed it.
Ways You Can Release Your Writing to the Public:
Your own site
Own your own name, your pen name, any brand name you see fit and they can all point back to your website. Prices range from $3 a year to $11 a year for one domain. Add in ICANN fees and taxes and it’ll cost you about $75 for one domain for 5 years. Why 5 years? Google likes websites that the domains are owned for 3-5+ years because it shows you are in the for the long haul. You will be rewarded with a higher PageRank and better SEO.
You will have many options for the kind of site you can have. The most important things to consider are that you can easily publish and have the ability to sell your work. Ecommerce will allow you to make money off your own writing whether you are signed or not. Your website is your home, you control it, and that’s where you want to drive your traffic.
e-Books
It’s confusing how many types there are so here’s a breakdown of e-book types and formats for your consideration. There is no industry standard which is why there are so many formats. You can have your e-book available in multiple formats but it is wise to pay attention to quality control because your work will shift from version to version. When migrating to digital, here are six key questions to ask.
Many writers believe that e-books are for those that can’t get signed, that they aren’t real publishing, or that they simply aren’t for them. If this is your thinking, take a look at this information from the Association of American Publishers from June 2011. In the last 12 months, adult paperback sales have dropped 63.8% at a loss of $85m, hardcover sales down 25.4% while ebooks, via Kindle, iPad and Nook +167% for the month, gaining $50m. Is that enough to convince you that e-books are a valid form of publishing?
Many believe that if you use e-books or self publish, you won’t get signed. If you are able to prove you are a sure thing with dependable sales, the odds of you being signed actually go up as traditional publishers don’t have the budget to bet on unproven talent. You can leverage this information to get a better contract rate as well.
I mentioned in my presentation that in my field of technology, e-books and pdfs are really the best way for me to get up-to-date information. When I get a bound tech book (some call it a dead tree edition), the first thing I look at is the copyright date. If it’s before 2010, it’s ancient and the information is most likely no longer useful. This isn’t a judgement, it’s a fact that the second a book is printed on technology, it’s out of date. That’s how quickly my industry changes (like you weren’t aware). Every industry is different but I wanted you to be know how important this type of publication is in my work and possibly others.
Distribution of e-books is wide and varied from iTunes with the iBook application, simple pdfs that can be sent via email or posted to websites and forums, Amazon has the Kindle store, Scribd, and many more options.
Print on Demand
The one thing everyone can agree on here is that there is little everyone can agree on. Making sure your work is “future proofed” is important because of the constant developments in technology. Again, quality control is very important as your work moves from digital to print.
Options for services: Lulu, Completely Novel, Blurb, Wordclay, Createspace. Createspace is a great option because it is owned by Amazon. You upload your digital version to the Kindle Store and can print it at Createspace, fairly seamless.
- Start your own publishing house. Pros, lots of freedom. Cons, takes lots of your time and quite a bit of up front investment.
- Self publish using online tools. Pros, takes little upfront cash and there’s quite a bit of flexibility. Cons, you will have to learn some new skills (I don’t think this is bad).
- Use a self publishing house. Pros, requires little time on the part of the writer. Cons, you’ll end up paying for a lot you don’t need.
- BEWARE of the vanity publisher! Those that will tell you your work is wonderful yet charge you and arm and a leg to print, market, and promote your work. You end up paying a lot for a very little return.
Social Media
The democratization of information is the best thing that has ever happened to non-profits, small businesses, oppressed societies and people. You can set up shop on any social network or online tool to share and promote your work. Look to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Ning, Tumblr, WordPress, StumbleUpon, and so many more. Social media is #1 about conversation #2 about sharing.
This is the most frequent question I get, “How do I get people to read or see my work?” My answer is, if you get a brand new phone number how will you get me to call you?…….. Give me your number. I can’t intuit that information. You HAVE to tell me.
There is another type of tool at your disposal, content curation. You can share your work with the world and then curate what you’ve written. Storify is great for that. They’ve also recently added SoundCloud to their services so that now you can curate your writing and add audio, like the Director’s Cut of a movie.
The one thing you have to remember about social media is that each platform or tool is it’s own universe. These are different rooms with differing cultures. They have their own language, rules, and styles of communication. When you decide you want to try one, make sure you research what it’s all about, set up an account and observe the behavior of the natives. It’s so easy to barge in and make a fool of yourself. Go slowly. If you need help, ask me. I know a thing or two about social media.
Crowdsourcing
The last item to consider is crowdsourcing, formerly known as collaboration. You can use Crowdspring to get freelance writing projects. There is also a few sites like WeBook, Authonomy, and Inkpop that you can post your work in hopes that you will get valuable critiques and be spotted by an agent or traditional publisher.
I Sit in Silence
Posted on October, 06, 2011 by Kerry Rego -
I keep forgetting. Then I remember and it jolts me back to reality. My first reaction is to cry but I’m struggling with that. I tell myself that I’m jaded and shouldn’t be effected by the loss of a corporate figurehead. After all, I didn’t even know him.
Then why do I feel like crying every time I remember he’s gone?
I was absolutely shocked when I saw this text from my father-in-law telling me it was a sad day for Apple with no more information. I’d been in one meeting after the next all day and hadn’t checked the newswires. But I knew. I knew for the longest time Steve Jobs was living on borrowed time. Anything having to do with the pancreas is absolutely unavoidable. Add that to cancer….and you know what happens. When I was asked what I thought about him stepping down, I said, “I’m surprised he didn’t do it a long time ago. He’s not well.”
My whole world revolves around the tools he created. It’s embedded in the language I speak every day. The lessons I teach are largely based on what he gave me. I can’t help but feel like crying. It’s only because I didn’t actually meet him that they don’t flow freely. All I am able to do is lose one tear, wipe it away, and acknowledge that I am surrounded by his products that changed the world. They didn’t just change the greater world, they changed mine. My business model was disrupted after the release of the iPhone and it looks completely different today than when I went into business. I am not saying it lightly when I say Apple products changed my life.
Not many people can say that they had a major effect on the way things work. He did. And for that, for the man that I never met, I sit in silence.
**May you and your family find peace in your passing. Please know we will all miss your vision, your guidance, and your presence. You are felt everywhere.
10 Most Important Things You Need To Know About the New Facebook Page Layout
Posted on February, 23, 2011 by Kerry Rego -
Facebook is notorious for changing their product on what seems like a weekly basis. I’m an optimist and what I tell my clients is that this never ending wheel of upset has made us better at accepting the inevitable, life is about change. It’s normally not an easy thing for most to do but I wanted you to know there are some great things that came with this newest one. Here are the 10 most important things you need to know about this new layout.
- As a Page administrator, you now have the option of being notified when someone comments or posts on your Page! This is huge! No more stalking your Page for new comments. Whew! You can be more productive now. (Edit Page->Your Settings)
- You may now interact on Facebook as your Page. Your News Feed will fill with the other Pages you Like. You may only post on Profiles of people that have set their Profile as viewable by Everyone.
- The flip side of that is you can now post on your Page as yourself! This is a feature I’ve heard much clamoring for. Useful for Pages that have multiple administrators.
- Your Page wall is no longer in chronological order. Everyone sees a different order of posts based on a new weighting system. By using your Admin View function, you can view your Page in proper order. This is also where your Spam posts are, now known as Hidden Posts. UPDATE: William Allen (@SonomaWilliam) brought to my attention the backlash over this feature change. It hadn’t bothered me due to the fact that we are now getting notifications about posts and having Admin View to rearrange it but there is valid concern in not being able to view a Page in proper order. Weigh in on this.
- Have you seen the Moderation Feature? This is in your Manage Permissions area on the back end of your Page. It’s similar to blogs that allow you to block words. Think of all those spammy emails you get in your regular email box. List the words (trigger words) you do not want to see on your Page and any post violating this list will be marked as spam and put into Hidden Posts. You also have a Profanity Block List that lets you to set the level of profanity you will allow on your Page.
- You now have a Photo strip at the top just like your Profile does. The pictures that appear are the last that the administrator has uploaded or tagged the page in and will update as you upload anything new. Photos uploaded by non-administrators (fans) will not appear in this strip. Mouseover any photo you don’t want there and an X will appear. Once removed, the photo is still accessible, just not visible in the strip.
- Your Page’s photo is now 180px wide x 540px high.
- The tabs that used to be at the top of the page are now on the left hand side under your picture and are now called navigation links. If you have more than seven, you can click the More button at the bottom of the links and Edit, you can now rearrange the order they are in. Mari Smith recommends putting your custom landing page at the bottom so that new fans automatically see the whole list. Smart!
- You might not like this new layout. Guess what? You can switch over now or wait until 3/11/11 when all of them will be switched over.
- You can add FBML content to your Page until 3/10/11 (when all Pages get switched over to the new format automatically) and it will continue to be supported. After 3/11/11, you’ll need to use iFrames. Help on iFrames.
We gained some great new abilities and lost a couple but overall I think the change is good. What are your thoughts? What’s missing?
The Internet Allows Me To Do More With Less
Posted on August, 04, 2010 by Kerry Rego -
I absolutely love the new internet. There I said it. I love the design asthetic, the rounded buttons and the three dimensional depth. All the sexy colors and no more Flash intros! Augmented reality and QR codes are already in your local stores. I really like being able to socialize without having to get dolled up. I can stalk people and keep tabs on the friends that I feel guilty about not spending more time with. I can be a voyeur and stare at others without running the risk of them noticing (not like in public). I own my own business and run it from the office in my bedroom. I have ecommerce and HTML on my website without having paid a dime to a developer or designer. I can accept payments via credit card without a traditional credit card terminal. I have a fax number but don’t have a physical machine. I can shoot video or audio, edit, upload and broadcast without a studio. Use freemium open sources software to schedule, create documents, and run my sites. My conference room is the locally owned coffeeshop with great wifi. And don’t get me started on my palmtop computer (other people call it a smartphone). I didn’t need a laptop until I started professionally speaking. I only bought it so that I could bring my own gear to events loaded and ready to go for my presentations. I don’t NEED a laptop. My trusty iMac and iPhone have done me wonders. I have an iPad but mine fits in my pocket.
Cable TV? What’s that? My inexpensive (I mean REALLY inexpensive) laptop is a glorified DVD player and is treated as such. Step 1 Netflix + Hulu = all the TV I need. All I need now is the cord to hook it up to my lonely and huge flatscreen TV. Since regular cable went away, it doesn’t get used that much. Sometimes it becomes the stereo (iPhone + Pandora + cord + TV = a big dance party). I invested in some standard equipment and pay a decent monthly rate for my broadband modem. Though I might just explode if the digital transfer and modem speeds were to match up to other advanced countries. My point in all this is look at how much one can do with limited resources. I’m wondering when people will figure out that we are doing so much MORE with less. I know that those overbuilt commercial buildings will remain empty. Why? Because if I can run my creative empire from a coffeeshop or my kitchen table, why would I go back to the old model? Mumbling, grumbling, change, lack of privacy, bah humbug. Did I mention how awesome Google and IMDB (Internet Movie Database) are at settling bets? My life + the internet, it only gets sweeter.