By this point, we all pretty much know how Facebook is documenting our every status, check-in and conversation to deliver custom targeted advertising right down the center of our feeds. But, now third-party companies are actually mining your Instagram selfies for big bucks.
An expose over at Wall Street Journal unveils how brands can harvest their logos in Instagram’s vast database of photos to learn what you love to wear, eat and drink — and even when and where you’re doing it. Companies like Ditto Labs are helping to sca and store and deliver your images right into the hands of corporate America for some seriously custom market research.
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Instagram, Flickr and Pinterest contend that they clearly inform users about the potential third-party sharing of photos with marketing partners, and maintain that images marked as “private” will continue to remain so.
Next time you opt to share that photo of your hot, new logo-plastered hoodie or that obligatory morning coffee selfie, you’re essentially advertising for that company and granting a seal of approval to their products.
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But hey, don’t let us stop you from Instagramming your next Pumpkin Spice Latte—we’ll be right there with you. Because social media has become so embedded in our lives that it is changing the way we behave—and it’s definitely here to stay. Bath-selfie anyone?
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