Facebook now lets advertisers use your picture
Filed under: Sex Sells, Technology
Most of us are aware of the dangers associated with posting lewd and inappropriate pictures to Facebook. But what about the many family friendly photos you upload to your profile? Thanks to a relatively new Facebook decision, not even your well-thought-out profile pictures are safe. Cheryl Smith, a consultant who blogs at Culture Smith Consulting, raised the alarm today after her husband was served up an ad for "Hot Singles" complete with her picture! How is this so? By default, Facebook users have been opted into a new Facebook Ads program which places your image in select advertisements based on partnerships (read a profitable selling of your likeness) that Facebook has made.
According to Facebook:
Facebook occasionally pairs advertisements with relevant social actions from a user's friends to create Facebook Ads. Facebook Ads make advertisements more interesting and more tailored to you and your friends.While most users would be OK with their likeness being used to advertise a product that they are a fan of on Facebook like Snickers or the World Wildlife Fund; fewer would likely be happy to see their profile picture being used to pimp dating services and the like.
Fortunately it's very easy to opt out of this asinine decision by visiting the "News Feed and Wall" section of your Facebook settings. Cheryl Smith, the aforementioned "Hot Single," has more detailed opt out instructions available for those who need them.
For a company that was just criticized for calling dibs on everything posted to Facebook; enabling this feature for advertisers, especially without an announcement to users, flies in the face of its attempts to work with users for an agreeable environment.
If you don't want to end up with a slew of vulgar wall posts or having your boss and coworkers think you model for singles dating websites on the side, you best opt out pronto!
Clarification: There are many innocent uses of your profile picture by Facebook that fall under this opt out form including using your profile picture on Fan Pages and on Fan modules (like the one to the right of this article). The trouble comes when Facebook lets a company advertising "Hot Singles" use your profile picture because you have not taken steps to become a fan of "Hot Singles" like you would for WalletPop or any other company with a fan page on Facebook.
MoreOli Scarff, Getty Images
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
7-18-2009 @ 1:01PM
Steven said...
So, what's the big deal? If you are scared of anyone using your image, without consulting you; then stay off the internet!! Only add those that you really trust, don't accept anyone into your friend's lists that you don't know (otherwise it's not a friend's list!)
Dear, oh dear; one would have thought that people knew how the "internet" works; if you put some image, text etc., onto the internet there is a heck of a lot of chance that someone will save it, and then maybe later post it somewhere else, as his own (or not), a day from now or many years from now.
Just check this story out from the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jun/11/smith-family-photo-czech-advertisement
(Headline of the story is: American family's web photo ends up as Czech advertisement)
Reply
7-20-2009 @ 4:11PM
Simzee said...
Steven.....I saw your picture in a porn ad.
7-20-2009 @ 4:35PM
balkan555 said...
Yeah! Why would they show some effeminete guy with a 1 inch limp dick?
7-20-2009 @ 6:46PM
Jonathan said...
Whoooaa Nellie!
7-20-2009 @ 7:28PM
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7-21-2009 @ 4:43PM
Kas said...
WHATS THE BIG DEAL ? Some one is making money... off of my personal photo.. and it isn't me ! Thats the big deal. Advertisers .. make money... from ad's or they wouldn't be doing it.. and they are using unsuspecting peresons photo's as they see fit. Also... if I want my face on a photo in a porn ad.. that is my decision.. Not some one stealing my likeness.
7-21-2009 @ 3:47PM
sutongott said...
Simzee: why were you looking a porno ads... you pervert.
7-21-2009 @ 3:56PM
sutongott said...
balkan555: Exactly why did you google "effeminete guy with a 1 inch limp dick"?
7-22-2009 @ 5:06PM
Headstrong said...
So what you're saying, Steven, is that the public have no rights and the corporations can just walk all over us anytime they feel like it? It IS still illegal to reproduce an image that is the property of another. Posting a picture on the internet does not make it public domain. I was already aware that Facebook makes you sign away rights to your pictures (why would they do that if posted pics are PD?) but this was a little bit of a shock. I didn't realize that they were sick enough to SELL their users pictures. That to me seems like a breech of contract and I'd probably be talking to a lawyer about suing for compensation based on revenue relieved by Facebook for using my image in that way without my specific consent.
7-20-2009 @ 10:03PM
Rachael said...
Even if you opt out, they still use your photos in ads... I know because my husband and I regularly see ourselves in those ads and we both opted out!
Reply
7-20-2009 @ 2:59PM
Justine said...
My photo was used in the same singles ad, but my BROTHER was the one who saw it!
But, I do have to say that Steven is a dumbass to tell people not to use the Internet if they're scared of their images being used. People shouldn't have to copyright all their pictures, and facebook should have announced to their users that this would be happening and told them how to opt out of it if they didn't like it.
Reply
7-21-2009 @ 8:01AM
Michelle said...
I have to agree - Steven - you are an idiot. Bet you wouldn't like it if you face was on an ad for erectile dysfunction.
7-21-2009 @ 12:40PM
judy said...
I agree/// U should have been able to opt. OUT//
7-21-2009 @ 3:29PM
KAS said...
Something wrong in Denmark here.. I can pay for pictures, say.. of my self( last wk) Paid... lots of money for them... yet, I can't go and have the 8X10 copied at Walgreens.. because of copy write. I would almost bet.. that every picture I have on here is scanned and it is copywritted.. so ...
Who is to say, if I see mypicture snagged and pirated.. and used w/ out my written consent.. ...
That Facebook.. or anyone , person place or thing.. stealling my pictures.. arent violating copy write laws ????????
I mean if I can't copy and make smaller prints for me.. and I paid for them.. then how can facebook or advertisers ???
hum ???
7-21-2009 @ 4:10PM
Sam said...
YEAH! Steven is the idiot. I don't remember being told by FB that my picture became their property and there is nothing inappropriate about anything I've posted. It also doesn't mean I want my picture used by a company in an ad for anything.
We do know how the internet works.
7-20-2009 @ 2:59PM
Maggie said...
Myself, I would not like my picture being used for any ad without my written permisssion. Since the opt out don't seem to work, I will remove myself completely from Facebook. I don't like those places anyway...facebook, twitter....etc. They are for kids who like to play stupid games. I only signed up because my grand daughter asked me to. I never go there unless she or another of my family sends a message there.
Byeeeeeeeeeeeee
Maggie
Reply
7-20-2009 @ 3:32PM
danyelle202 said...
I totally agree. At the age of 28 I think that those sites are for teenagers and young adults. I think that grown adults have no place on these sites, and would love to see where they have made a site for GROWN ADULTS. I don't know about you, but I do not care to be on a site where there are 12 and 13 yr olds. I have no use for them. I do feel that if you post something on the web, you should be aware that people can take it and do whatever with it! DUH!!!!!! I am not sure why people don't grasp this. I do not post my pics, or will I until I know for sure that they are safe (which is not possible), until then, people should beware. And I feel like everyone should know this. I mean if you can look up anyone and find information about them, their lives and even their families. What would make you think that this couldn't happen with pics???????
7-20-2009 @ 3:01PM
Steve said...
AOL News is really going after Facebook! Earlier this morning they had an article about a nun whose nude pictures were posted on facebook from before she was a nun dating some guy.
It's seems like AOL is a bunch of poor losers who can stand to see an awesome online idea making more money then them! Poor babies...
Grow up, selective new reporting agenda'd fart hats!
Reply
7-21-2009 @ 1:12PM
Steve is a jackass said...
Wow you sure are what everyone is saying about you.Not only do you think facebook has the right to sell your pictures and keep the money(screw the people who do it for a living) you also think AOL is out to get facebook because its a good idea? You would think AOL would know that facebook copied of of Myspace so the great idea wasn't even theirs it was TOMS great idea.You are a giant ball sack.
7-21-2009 @ 3:33PM
Kas said...
Actually am glad they posted the article on AOL.... people should know.. what is going on w/ their personal photo's. People are paid a lot of money to do modeling.. Remember some models cost $1000 an hr and up.. So.. if they steal photo's they are paying nothing!