Instagram is incorporating users' photos in ads for Meta Glasses

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Background: Instagram Photos in Meta Glasses Ads

  • Users report Instagram profile photos being pulled into ads for Meta smart glasses, sometimes featuring spouses or friends.
  • Several see this as “creepy” and an escalation of already invasive personalization.

History and Terms of Service

  • Commenters note Facebook/Instagram have claimed broad rights to user content since at least 2013, including using names, photos, and content in commercial or sponsored material without compensation.
  • Many point out this is now standard across major social platforms; HN’s own terms are cited as similarly broad.
  • Some argue sites include expansive licenses mainly for legal protection; others believe it’s about maximizing exploitation.

Consent, Rights, and Ethics

  • People highlight that users may consent via ToS, but photo subjects in images often have not.
  • Meta is framed as having a long record of trust abuses (scam ads, data misuse, surveillance), so few expect it to act ethically here.
  • There’s concern users are effectively signing away not just their own rights but the “commons” of public imagery.

“Read the ToS” vs Practical Reality

  • Repeated debate over whether users can be blamed if they didn’t read or understand huge, opaque EULAs.
  • Most agree practically no one reads them; some say that’s exactly why companies bury objectionable terms.

Effectiveness, Creepiness, and Ad Logic

  • Some recall past Facebook ads using friends’ photos (e.g., dating or product ads).
  • Disagreement on whether such ads are “useful” (memorable, possibly attention-grabbing) or just off-putting and brand-damaging.

Lock-in and Alternatives

  • Many say “just delete Facebook/Instagram,” and some report having done so.
  • Others note practical lock-in: small businesses, events, and even governments rely on Instagram/WhatsApp, making abstention costly.
  • Attempts to use “shell accounts” often trigger bans or intrusive identity checks; third-party viewers exist but are imperfect.

Overall Attitude

  • Very little surprise; Meta is frequently compared to tobacco or gambling companies.
  • Core tension: users dislike the practice but remain on the platforms due to network effects and lack of viable alternatives.