Meta Updates Terms Of Service To Collect User Data
Meta's new terms of service allow web scrapers to collect data from sites, including journalistic content, to train LLMs. This change has far-reaching effects on users and businesses.
Original reporting · prdaily.com
Original: “Social media updates and new features to know this week”
Read “Social media updates and new features to know this week” at PR Daily →
How this was written. Awesome B2B Design wrote this article with a language model from PR Daily’s reporting (model: @cf/meta/llama-3.3-70b-instruct-fp8-fast); it describes that reporting rather than adding to it. The original, linked above, is the full story.
Key points from PR Daily’s report
- Meta's updated terms of service allow web scrapers to collect data from users' sites, including journalistic content, to train LLMs.
- The change has significant implications for businesses and individuals who use the platform, and currently, there is no opt-out available.
- Other social media platforms, such as Facebook, Reels, Edits, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn, and X, are introducing new features and updates to improve user experience and provide more relevant content.
- These updates reflect the ongoing evolution of social media platforms and their efforts to address concerns around data privacy and authenticity.
- The changes may have far-reaching effects on how users interact with social media platforms and how businesses advertise on these platforms.
A new change to Meta's terms of service, effective October 30, allows the company's web scrapers to collect data from users' sites, according to PR Daily. This change has significant implications for businesses and individuals who use the platform. The modified terms of service explicitly state that the collected content can be used to train Large Language Models (LLMs).
The updated terms of service may have far-reaching effects beyond the obvious, as the scrapers can collect not only web copy and sales catalogs but also journalistic content from news sites. This raises concerns about data privacy and the potential misuse of collected information. Currently, there is no opt-out available for users who do not want their data to be collected.
In other news, Meta is introducing a new type of ad called Ads Super Burst, which allows advertisers to choose a 3- to 24-hour window for their ads to receive a 'TV-like scale'. Additionally, the company is testing First Impression Ads, which would show up first when users open the app, and Reels Trending Ads, which would allow content placement alongside popular content in real-time.
Facebook is also updating its algorithm to give users more control over their personal feeds. Users will be able to add topics they want to see more of or remove from their feed, and the app may follow up with specific questions about their preferences. This change aims to improve the user experience and provide more relevant content.
Other social media platforms, such as Reels, Edits, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn, and X, are also introducing new features and updates. For example, Reels now allows users to keep a reference video on screen while filming, and Edits is making it easier for creators to share content within the app. WhatsApp is adding guest calling, which enables anyone to join a call from within the app, even if they don't have an account.
YouTube is expanding its conversational search tool, Ask YouTube, to mobile devices, and YouTube Music is labeling music where 'AI played a significant role'. Reddit has released a public-facing page explaining how the platform will protect users from inauthentic content during the US midterm elections. LinkedIn is highlighting its creator-focused tools and introducing a new all-in-one dashboard for influencers.
X has released a mega bundle of services, allowing users to subscribe to Grok, Grok Bot, Cursor, and X Premium, with prices ranging from a free tier to $200 a month based on usage. These updates and changes reflect the ongoing evolution of social media platforms and their efforts to improve user experience, provide new features, and address concerns around data privacy and authenticity.
Questions and answers
What is the change to Meta's terms of service?
The change allows Meta's web scrapers to collect data from users' sites, including journalistic content, to train LLMs, effective October 30.
Can users opt-out of the data collection?
Currently, there is no opt-out available for users who do not want their data to be collected.
What are some of the new features introduced by other social media platforms?
Other platforms, such as Facebook, Reels, Edits, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn, and X, are introducing new features, such as updated algorithms, new ad formats, and improved content creation tools.
