Did you read the new Terms of Service for your Snapchat account?

Odds are, probably not.  The most recent update occurred on September 26, 2017.  Before that, there was already a lot of power in the Terms hidden behind the blindly pressed clip-wrap agreement such as Snapchat being allowed to use your photographs on billboards without you knowing or getting any compensation for it.  If you have read through the terms in the past, some of this may be a review for you.

Here’s what you agreed to last month:

Your Private content:

“For all content you submit to the Services other than Public Content, you grant Snap inc. and our affiliates a worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to host, store, use, display, reproduce, modify, adapt, edit, publish, and distribute that content. “

• even though this statement is followed by a big line stating these licenses are solely for bettering our services, having that much free will available can be an intimidating fact that we barely even think about.
• public content is not included because Snapchat wants to use content you deemed free to the world, to their highest advantage.

Your Public content:

“In addition to granting us the rights mentioned in the previous paragraph [quoted above], you also grant us a perpetual license to create derivative works from, promote, exhibit, broadcast, syndicate, sublicense, publicly perform, and publicly display Public Content in any form and in an and all media or distribution methods (now known or later developed)… you also grant Snap Inc, our affiliates, and our business partners the unrestricted, worldwide, perpetual right and license to use your name, likeness, and voice, including in connection with commercial or sponsored content.”

• Snapchat is allowed to do whatever it wants with your content placed on any story that is left open to the public such as the “Our story” options, or anything left on “My story” when you leave your settings so that anyone can view your story.
• With the ability to use your name, likeness, and voice, you could be in a commercial, without your knowledge – but still technically with your consent – and get no compensation from Snapchat.

What can be done with your content on your end:

“While we’re not required to do so, we may access, review, screen, and delete your content at any time for any reason, including to provide and develop the Services or if we think your content violates these Terms.”

• Although it is stated here that changing your content in any way would be to improve services or to remove anything that could be considered a violation, Snapchat can do things that are specific to your own individual account, without any restrictions because it is allowed to do so for any reason.  That line is just a sugarcoating.
• even though Snapchat claims to be monitoring us to prevent illegal use of the application, it claims no obligation to regulate users, and therefore can be freed from any liabilities, putting full responsibility back onto users.

“…if you volunteer feedback or suggestions, just know that we can use your ideas without compensating you.”

• any suggestions will be solely for you to improve the application; there is no other gain for you.

This is just a small synopsis of the general terms specified online by Snap Inc. regarding your content.

For full content, click Full Terms of Service.