WhatsApp which is owned by Facebook updated its terms of service, which is set to come into effect on 8 Feb 2021.
By agreeing, you agree to share any data WhatsApp holds on you with Facebook and its various subsidiaries. Data like your log reports, device and network details, and your location. Even if you haven’t consented location sharing, an approximate location is shared. Facebook will use it to target its services and ads better. It’s also worth remembering that Cambridge Analytica harvested the personal data of millions of Facebook accounts to manipulate the outcome of various elections – and that was without users consent. If you don’t pay for the product, you are the product.
Almost 2 years ago now, as part of a ‘digital health check’ I deleted my Facebook account on the basis it was no longer useful to me (oh how I have not missed that black hole!). The only way to opt out on this occasion is to leave the WhatsApp service. Previously when I deleted Facebook, I acknowledged that I was still using WhatsApp and that at the time, I was comfortable with the terms of their service. This time however, if I’m deleting WhatsApp I will not stand for a half measure like I did before. The job will only be done properly if I leave Facebook owned Instagram too. Since I use Instagram as an online presence/shop window for my photography business it’s now time to rethink this.
So why do I use Instagram?
- This notion of ‘online presence’. Being a photographer, people assume I have an account and often ask to see it
- To advertise my photography services
- It’s assumed if speculative clients visit the account it:
- Somewhat provides them with a social proof – this person is ‘real’
- Confirms to them how active you are and how recently – “look this person did a wedding just last week!”
- Could be the only place they’ve reviewed your work – that fleeting scroll may be all that prompts a ‘call to action’; an email enquiry
What don’t I use Instagram for?
- I don’t use it to stay in touch with friends
- I don’t use as a means of cataloging or journaling my life and images
- I don’t use it as a way of looking for and reviewing products I’m interested in
So what are the alternatives for each thing I do use Instagram for?
- I have a website for people to visit and review my work …you’re here already, it works! 😛
- Social proof can be fulfilled by garnering Google reviews for doing good work. Featuring images or video of myself on my site working with my clients should work well too.
- Regularly updating my website or contributing to my blog with articles such as this one will show activity, as well as the dates of submitted Google reviews
- People will often begin with a Google search, which will direct them to my site offering ‘call to action’ opportunities; and
- Google Ads can be used to advertise online, as well as many other alternatives.
Basically a lot of Google it seems. Perhaps the lesser of two evils? At least I’m paying Google for some of the services they provide. It’s hard to tell, but for now it’s possible for me to at least entirely eliminate the increasingly insidious Facebook Inc. from my digital fingerprint going forward. In a constantly changing world where we have to figure this stuff out on our own, I’m going to call that one a win.
CJLM
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