Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Home / 228

Your social media rights in a digital future

Two recent events give valuable insights into what is happening in technology, especially the risks and rewards of social media.

First, each year since 1959, the ABC has produced a series called the Boyer Lectures. In 2017, Professor Genevieve Bell’s series is called Fast, Smart and Connected: What is it to be Human, and Australian, in a Digital World? In particular, Episode 4 asks how Australia should build its digital future and “a world that is not about our worst impulses but our best”. Genevieve Bell pioneered futuristic research at Intel in Silicon Valley, and she focusses on the role of technology in our lives.

The second event is the recent release of simplified Terms and Conditions, based on those issued by social media giants, by the Children’s Commissioner for England (the ‘Commissioner’, established under the Children’s Act 2004).

Facebook has two billion users, but it’s doubtful whether more than a tiny minority has read the Terms and Conditions everyone agrees to. The T&Cs connect to another 10 documents on specific policies, with thousands of words of legal undertakings. Users give away the right to privacy and the ownership of material shared online, while agreeing that Facebook can make money from the content without paying the user.

It’s the same with all the social media giants. The Commissioner for England reports that in the UK, Instagram is used by 56% of 12- to 15-year-olds and an amazing 43% of 8- to 11-year-olds, and their T&Cs run to 17 pages and over 5,000 words. These children and their parents do not realise they are being tracked even when the app is not in use. They have given away their personal data including its commercialisation and even agreed that Instagram has the right to read direct messages. Snapchat can publicly display or sell any content put on Live Snapchat, including a person’s face or voice.

Simplifying the rules for all to understand

The Commissioner has issued simplified T&Cs and guides to give children, teachers and adults more power and information, aimed primarily at UK schools but available for all. She says of the social media giants, highlighting Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, WhatsApp and Instagram:

“Their terms and conditions are impenetrable, even to most adults. Children have absolutely no idea that they are giving away the right to privacy or the ownership of their data or the material they post online.”

In January 2017, the Commissioner published a year-long study called ‘Growing Up Digital’ to help prepare children for their digital lives. She says the companies should be doing more to counter the negative social impact of cyber-bullying, grooming, control over content, the impact on mental health, the effect on body image, anxiety and depression.

In conjunction with Tes (a teacher's resource site which has an Australian section here) and legal firm Schillings, the Commissioner has produced teaching packs relevant to citizens around the world, including simplified T&Cs for five social media sites. The packs can be downloaded for free. Here is a short extract from the simplified version of Facebook’s rights.

Facebook’s rights

1. We use technology that can track information about you automatically as soon as you go onto Facebook.

2. Facebook can collect information about you, including:

  • Everything you tell us when you set up your account
  • The pages you view, how long you spend and who you talk to
  • What device you’re using, what browser and network, and your IP address
  • Details about what you post or ‘like’
  • Anything anyone else shares about you or tags you in
  • What and who is in your address book, if it’s synced to Facebook
  • Your card details, address and what you’ve bought, if you buy things on Facebook
  • Your battery and signal strength
  • Where you are
  • If you go onto another company’s website or app

3. We can use your name, profile pictures, information about what you ‘like’ and anything you post to make money and we don’t have to pay you for that.

4. Facebook owns other companies, including Instagram and WhatsApp who can share information about you with Facebook. If someone buys Facebook, the sale will include your information.

5. Facebook uses your information to suggest adverts, photos you should be tagged in, or places you should check in. We don’t have to make it obvious whether something is an advert or not.”

The Facebook terms and conditions have been edited for educational purposes and are not a replacement for the original version, which can be found at bit.ly/TCsFacebook.

What can be done?

Facebook acknowledges that its users also have rights, and these are outlined in the teaching packs. Probably most important is this interpretation:

“Some companies will share information about you with us and we will share information about you with them. We won’t share your name or email address, but we can share your age, location, gender and interests with advertisers all over the world, or people doing research. You have the right to tell us not to and we won’t.”

Therefore, users have the right to control and limit some of the details that Facebook may share.

I’m not an expert on Facebook, but in the top right of the home page, the Help Center is under the question mark, and it contains the tabs to set the privacy settings, including an advertising and preferences tool. It’s worth exploring your preferences.

It’s doubtful whether many people would freely give away their rights to privacy and ownership of their image and voice, and allow personal details to be shared with advertisers without making it obvious they are being marketed to. The Boyer Lectures give some warnings on where we are headed. People should consider what rights they are prepared to relinquish, especially when protecting vulnerable young people who do not know what is happening.

 

Graham Hand is Managing Editor of Cuffelinks. Other than on the Boyer Lectures, the material for this article is sourced primarily from the website of Children’s Commissioner for England, and this should be checked for more details and context to confirm the accuracy of this interpretation.

RELATED ARTICLES

Facebook, Google need new business model

Business model disruption has barely begun

Facebook: social network or pervasive global media giant?

banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

Australian house prices close in on world record

Sydney is set to become the world’s most expensive city for housing over the next 12 months, a new report shows. Our other major cities aren’t far behind unless there are major changes to improve housing affordability.

The case for the $3 million super tax

The Government's proposed tax has copped a lot of flack though I think it's a reasonable approach to improve the long-term sustainability of superannuation and the retirement income system. Here’s why.

Tariffs are a smokescreen to Trump's real endgame

Behind market volatility and tariff threats lies a deeper strategy. Trump’s real goal isn’t trade reform but managing America's massive debts, preserving bond market confidence, and preparing for potential QE.

The super tax and the defined benefits scandal

Australia's superannuation inequities date back to poor decisions made by Parliament two decades ago. If super for the wealthy needs resetting, so too does the defined benefits schemes for our public servants.

Meg on SMSFs: Withdrawing assets ahead of the $3m super tax

The super tax has caused an almighty scuffle, but for SMSFs impacted by the proposed tax, a big question remains: what should they do now? Here are ideas for those wanting to withdraw money from their SMSF.

Getting rich vs staying rich

Strategies to get rich versus stay rich are markedly different. Here is a look at the five main ways to get rich, including through work, business, investing and luck, as well as those that preserve wealth.

Latest Updates

SMSF strategies

Meg on SMSFs: Withdrawing assets ahead of the $3m super tax

The super tax has caused an almighty scuffle, but for SMSFs impacted by the proposed tax, a big question remains: what should they do now? Here are ideas for those wanting to withdraw money from their SMSF.

Superannuation

The huge cost of super tax concessions

The current net annual cost of superannuation tax subsidies is around $40 billion, growing to more than $110 billion by 2060. These subsidies have always been bad policy, representing a waste of taxpayers' money.

Planning

How to avoid inheritance fights

Inspired by the papal conclave, this explores how families can avoid post-death drama through honest conversations, better planning, and trial runs - so there are no surprises when it really matters.

Superannuation

Super contribution splitting

Super contribution splitting allows couples to divide before-tax contributions to super between spouses, maximizing savings. It’s not for everyone, but in the right circumstances, it can be a smart strategy worth exploring.

Economy

Trump vs Powell: Who will blink first?

The US economy faces an unprecedented clash in leadership styles, but the President and Fed Chair could both take a lesson from the other. Not least because the fiscal and monetary authorities need to work together.

Gold

Credit cuts, rising risks, and the case for gold

Shares trade at steep valuations despite higher risks of a recession. Amid doubts that a 60/40 portfolio can still provide enough protection through times of market stress, gold's record shines bright.

Investment strategies

Buffett acolyte warns passive investors of mediocre future returns

While Chris Bloomstan doesn't have the track record of his hero, it's impressive nonetheless. And he's recently warned that today has uncanny resemblances to the 1990s tech bubble and US returns are likely to be disappointing.

Sponsors

Alliances

© 2025 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer
The data, research and opinions provided here are for information purposes; are not an offer to buy or sell a security; and are not warranted to be correct, complete or accurate. Morningstar, its affiliates, and third-party content providers are not responsible for any investment decisions, damages or losses resulting from, or related to, the data and analyses or their use. To the extent any content is general advice, it has been prepared for clients of Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), without reference to your financial objectives, situation or needs. For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. You should consider the advice in light of these matters and if applicable, the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision to invest. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product’s future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a professional financial adviser. Articles are current as at date of publication.
This website contains information and opinions provided by third parties. Inclusion of this information does not necessarily represent Morningstar’s positions, strategies or opinions and should not be considered an endorsement by Morningstar.