Over the last week controversy has surrounded Instagram after it seemed to change its privacy policy to allow it to own and sell user content.

Today Instagram denied that was what they were doing and blamed the confusion on their language use, but some damage has already been done.

The changes due to Instagram’s policy in January 2013 are compulsory but they are yet to release an updated version which will specify how much control you will have over your intellectual property or content.

The key to social networks surviving is the trust of their users. Instagram users want to be sure their content is their own and copyright to them as is standard practice in law. You don’t want your images being used without your content for something that you may not be happy with or agree with.

Instagram is a great social networking tool, a wonderfully creative a visual way to share content and, if you’re a business, to develop a relationship with your customers.

Instagram’s reaction to the user and press furore that surrounded the announcement demonstrates that they know it is a bad idea, and hopefully they will be looking to maintain their customer trust levels and uphold our privacy. For social media to work you have to be willing to share and for that to happen you need to know you have control over your content.