Facebook allows advertisers to use your photos in ads

Most of us are aware of the dangers associated with posting lewd and inappropriate pictures to Facebook. But what about the many family friendly photos you upload to your profile? Thanks to a relatively new Facebook decision, not even your well-thought-out profile pictures are safe. According to the site WalletPop, Cheryl Smith, a consultant who blogs at Culture Smith Consulting, raised the alarm today after her husband was served up an ad for “Hot Singles” complete with her picture!

After looking into the story, it turns out that by default, Facebook users have been automatically opted into a new Facebook program which allows placement of  your profiles  image in select advertisements.

According to the updated Facebook privacy statement:

Facebook occasionally pairs advertisements with relevant social actions from a user’s friends to create Facebook Ads. Facebook Ads make advertisements more interesting and more tailored to you and your friends.

So while I am not opposed to my photo showing up on a page that I am a fan of (for example, if you look at a brands fan page, you are shown “fans” who are your friends) I don’t think that I am looking forward to seeing my photo popping up on advertising.

Luckily it’s easy to opt out of this new program.   It’s today’s tip:

1. On the top right side of your facebook home page, click on Settings
2. Click on Privacy
3. Click on News Feed and Wall
4. Check the Facebook Ads heading
5. In Appearance in Facebook Ads – click No One

This was another in a series of odd choices for this popular social platform to make.   It seems difficult to even imagine the fair and practical purpose for this policy change.  Sure it will likely work well for advertisers, I am certain the click through rates will increase on ads with your friends photos in them, but at the same time – making this change without an obvious announcement to the Facebook community is a bad decision by any standard.

Regardless – unless you are interested in appearing in the next ad for a dating service or hair replacement company (more likely in my case!) then I would suggest you take the steps above and disable this function asap.