The Small Print Project                                       

A collaborative document of experiences with agreements in the digital age as they are designed and encountered.

April 18, 2008

Facebook: By Adding This App, You Agree to Be Used in an Ad

Posted to TOS by Andy Sternberg

facebook app beaconThis kind of caught me by surprise — I’ve never seen anything — even in the Facebook App Developers’ small print — indicating that a user’s adding of an app equivocates signing away one’s likeness to said app for use in an add on your friends’ profiles. Here’s my friend Patrick Neeman of Speaktech being totally USED and I wonder if he even knows it?

Is this unique to the “Friends for Sale” App being advertised here or is this a standard policy allowed by developers who build Facebook Apps? Seems a little much to me… What do you think? Is this the kind of cross-promotion of your likeness you should expect when participating in an online community / social network?

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  • thanks alot
  • I have seen many posts related to this topic on the internet but I really found your post informative.
  • Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts.
  • the point where a simple handshake and coffee seem, once again, very appealing.
  • Thanks, its a very good information of sharing and making people know about the activities.
  • This looks absolutely perfect. All these tinny details are made with lot of background knowledge. I like it a lot. Keep on taking action!
  • Thank you for post. I first has once got since search on your site and has found it very cognitive. Has Added itself in bookmarks.
  • Thank you so much for this post, it was very insightful!
  • Whats next? It does not surprise me at all. I just hope the government gives zukerburg and co the big slap down for treating its users so poorly,
  • the point where a simple handshake and coffee seem, once again, very appealing.
  • it sure is smart marketing. I just think Facebook should have rules for this kind of stuff. On the other hand.
  • This is really shocking, I had no idea they were allowed to do this. I wonder if anyone i know has been effected.
  • it is only being showed to people that can see your information.
  • It's definitely a little annoying but at least it is only being showed to people that can see your information.
  • It is not unique to that app. Tetris Friends does it as well.
  • I absolutely agree, this is a bit too far. Just another way to accumulate income on the internet.....

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  • This is really shocking, I had no idea they were allowed to do this. I wonder if anyone i know has been effected.
  • I think this is wrong, and is one of he reasons why I avoid social networks. Too much information, and too many to keep up with. If these people really cared about you, why do yo never see them in person?
  • Nowadays facebook are now swarming with a lot of applications, and what you mentioned is not unique.. there are lots of other same applications like it.. I could really mention 2 or 3 apps with the same theme as friends for sale.
  • it is only being showed to people that can see your information................
  • I really don't see that you're gaining any more access to his info. Similarly, he isn't probably giving away any more info than his newsfeed usually does for him.
  • the point where a simple handshake and coffee seem, once again, very appealing...................
  • I will never install the application. I am very sorry - dont like this kind of community!
  • "small print erod[ing] privacy" ... there is no privacy. My advice to my kids is to not put anything on facebook or on any other website that may come along, that is of a private nature. It is just not a good idea.
  • Ben
    Well, it sure is smart marketing. I just think Facebook should have rules for this kind of stuff. On the other hand, people should maybe read the TOS before adding it?
  • seo
    This is another example of where small prints erodes privacy... just by installng an app you sign your likeness away... shocking.
  • It's definitely a little annoying but at least it is only being showed to people that can see your information.
  • I have personally had enough with the ridiculous add ons such as this one at Facebook and Social media centers, to the point where a simple handshake and coffee seem, once again, very appealing.
  • Andy, seems like a 'bit too much' to me as well!! You can only take things so far before they become ridiculous. I agree with what you've said. Keep up the good work.
  • Your blog came up when I searched for help. This was actually what I was looking for, and I am glad that I finally came here! Thks for sharing and keep up the good work!
  • In fact, all apps are free to do it, if the user allows for Social Ads (in the privacy tab of accounts). True, these are only seen by friends and none of the information is unavailable elsewhere on facebook, however, I don't know many people who actively check to confirm that their Social Ads status is set to on/off. In this case, my friend Patrick had no idea, and of course, he had no idea he was showing up in his friend's sidebar until I told him so.
  • anon
    It is not unique to that app. Tetris Friends does it as well.

    The ad is only shown to the friends of the person in it. Seeing as you could just go to his profile and check what apps he's added, I really don't see that you're gaining any more access to his info. Similarly, he isn't probably giving away any more info than his newsfeed usually does for him. The fact that it's further to the left of the page is pretty irrelevant.
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