Attention Facebook users!

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 12:17pm

This may be old news, but it is new to me and I had not made the changes so I thought I would post this, which tells you how to change it.

FACEBOOK has agreed to let a third party advertisers use your posted pictures WITHOUT your permission. Click on SETTINGS up at the top where you see the Log out link. Select Privacy. Then select NEWSFEEDS and WALL. Next select the tab that reads FACEBOOK ADS. There is a drop down box, select NO ONE. Then SAVE your changes.

[Perfectly Marvelous]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 2:54pm

Thank you for the head's up. Just changed my settings.

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 2:57pm

To add to the above, you can only get to the drop down menu to select 'no one' if you're on IE; Firefox treats that drop down box as an ad, and blocks it.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 3:12pm

Thanks for the heads up you guys

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 3:14pm

I disabled it, but all it does is use your pic beside some silly advertisement on someone else's profile. The other day, I got a pic of my friend Chris, who is a minister and very married, next to a singles site. I thought it was funny!

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 3:39pm

Maybe that's all it does now, JG. Point is they are using your images - and in your case, your friend's, without your overt permission, and doubtless making money from it. I knew about this, but I applaud MTVMANN for spreading the word.

"The other day, I got a pic of my friend Chris, who is a minister and very married, next to a singles site. I thought it was funny!"

Hw does your friend Chris feel about his photo being used without his permission?
Updated On: 7/24/09 at 03:39 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 3:44pm

"Firefox treats that drop down box as an ad, and blocks it."

Maybe that's something specific to you because I have Firefox and it worked for me.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 3:45pm

He thought it was funny, too. I don't mean it's not something we should all act on, it's just not the biggest deal right now. That's not to say it won't be. I have told my friends to fix it. I just didn't want anyone freaking out over it. I always get those stupid banners that read, "Donna's IQ is 132... how do you stack up?" I never thought much about it, as they only appear on your friend's feed.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 3:46pm

Do you use Adblock, Goth? I use Firefox with adblock and couldn't see that page, either. But like Jersey's friend, I don't care. I'm hoping someone will use the pictures of me as Elphaba to shill for over 30 single ladies.

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 4:00pm

yes, Firefox with Adblock. Sorry, I always forget that Adblock is separate on Firefox.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 4:05pm

I don't use Adblock, so that may be the issue.

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 6:11pm

Thank you so much for that heads up! Settings changed to "no one" now.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 6:17pm

This was posted before, but it doesn't hurt to post it again. I changed my settings a while ago. Thanks for posting this. Facebook is starting to annoy me a bit.

[singalongsong2]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 6:34pm

Thanks for the post.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 6:39pm

http://consumerist.com/5322173/facebook-lets-ads-steal-your-profile-photos-to-sell-crap-to-your-friends

[faithzilla]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 8:07pm

Thank you! My settings have been changed!

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 8:38pm

Thank you!

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 8:46pm

The drop-down box didn't work for me in Firefox. I had to use Internet Explorer to change my FB settings.

I think it's because I have the "ad blocker" plug-in installed for Firefox. I love that, and wouldn't change that setting for anything!

So it was easier just to go onto Explorer and fix the FB setting there.

Updated On: 7/24/09 at 08:46 PM

[Melicus]

Posted: 7/25/09 at 5:35pm

Thanks to those who mentioned the Firefox/Adblock problem! I read the news about Facebook yesterday but couldn't find the drop-down box on my page. Now, I know why.

[Melicus]

Posted: 7/26/09 at 5:33pm

Facebook claims the rumors are false.

In the past couple of days, a rumor has begun spreading that claims we have changed our policies for third-party advertisers and the use of your photos. These rumors are false, and we have made no such change in our advertising policies.



Debunking Rumors about Advertising and Photos

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 7/26/09 at 5:35pm

But they aren't rumors. I have gotten a number of ads within facebook using my friend's pictures.

[Melicus]

Posted: 7/26/09 at 5:55pm

JerseyGirl2,
I think they address the issue you're referring to at the bottom of their blog post. If I'm understanding it correctly, that's not the same issue as the rumors about third-party advertisers using photos without permission. I just recently joined Facebook though, and I'll admit I'm confused by all of this.

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 7/26/09 at 6:15pm

This was very helpful, no matter how much Facebook backpedals.

Are there any other similar little things on Facebook that you could warn us about?