Instagram has said it will remove language from its new terms of service that would have allowed users’ photos to be part of advertisements that would run within the photo sharing social network.

Kevin Systrom, the social network’s co-founder, said Instagram doesn’t currently have plans to run such ads, so it will remove that language from the terms of service that kick in Jan. 16.


“We do not have plans for anything like this and because of that we’re going to remove the language that raised the question,” Systrom said in a blog.

QUIZ: What set the Internet on fire in 2012?


Systrom said Instagram was listening to its users and would fix any mistakes on the social network’s part. He said Instagram never intended to sell people’s photos to others without compensating the photographers.

“This is not true and it is our mistake that this language is confusing,” he said. “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.”


The response from Systrom comes after many of the social network’s users threatened to stop using the service and delete their accounts altogether.

Although Systrom’s announcement should come as good news to any concerned Instagram users, the social network will still have to update its terms of service to reflect the changes Systrom announced Tuesday.


For now, the terms of service still contain the wording used Monday that upset many users.

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