Remember back in December when Instagram changed their terms of service and gained the ire of the internet at large? For a while there it looked like that particular storm had passed. However, The Verge is reporting that in the aftermath of Instagram’s PR misstep, a new website has emerged, and it looks like one that will provide a powerful service to the online community.
Docracy has launched it’s new Terms of Service Tracker. This easy-to-use website has already started tracking changes in TOS text across the internet. At present, the site has noted changes to 996 website terms of service documents.
The Verge article brings to light something Instagram users may not have considered: the only reason anyone even knew about these new changes was because they were announced. Meanwhile, other sites have made far more concerning TOS adjustments, such as Facebook removing the option to opt out of search before rolling out their new Graph Search feature.
It’s easy to see how useful this website could be for the end user. If it gets popular enough, it may also serve to keep online services in check, as well. Sites may be more inclined to transparency if they realize that they are being monitored, and if they are aware that users will know immediately when changes occur.
Instagram almost got it right
Instagram certainly made some missteps in the way they announced their TOS changes, but they should be lauded for at least announcing them in the first place. That’s more than can be said for other websites. Instagram users had every right to be upset, but at least the online photo-sharing app had enough respect for users to let them know changes were being made to the TOS they agreed to.
The changing face of the internet
These types of controversies serve to highlight the fact that when you work in the online arena, you are dealing with a smarter breed of consumer than you might expect. They know the score, and increasingly have access to services that reinforce the need for transparency.
Have you had a chance to look around Docracy’s Terms of Service Tracker yet? Find anything interesting?