Reposting on Instagram for Business

What are the rules for reposting on Instagram? Should you do it?  What if you sell their product in your store?  What if you think they took a beautiful photo that would flow with your Insta-Story?  How do you know when reposting on Instagram is okay or not?

I get asked this question all the time.  With other social media streams like Facebook and YouTube, there are clear rules and guidelines for this.  Instagram is different.

There are no crystal clear rules.  Then how do you know how to behave properly when it comes to reposting on Instagram for Business accounts?  Here’s what you should know.

What Do Instagram’s Terms & Conditions Say?

Not a whole lot actually. Other social media streams like Facebook and YouTube, there are clear rules and guidelines for this.  Instagram is different.

What They DO Say

• You must be over 13 years of age
• Content must not be offensive
• You are responsible for your own account
• You must not defame or imitate someone else
• Do not use it for illegal purposes
• Don’t send viruses/malware through Instagram
• Don’t use bots, crawlers, etc.
• Follow the community guidelines…

Instagram’s Community Guidelines Don’t Give the Answer

Share only photos and videos that you’ve taken or have the right to share.

As always, you own the content you post on Instagram. Remember to post authentic content, and don’t post anything you’ve copied or collected from the Internet that you don’t have the right to post. Learn more about intellectual property rights.

Their Intellectual Property Rights STILL Don’t Give the Answer

All they say is if you believe someone is infringing on your copyrighter work without your permission, to contact them by filling out their form.  However, they recommend you first contact the account owner and try to resolve the issue before bringing it to Instagram.

What Should YOU Do?

Be careful and respectful.  I recommend contacting the original owner (hopefully they ARE the original owner).  Ask if you can use their image and tell them why it’s important to you.  Either they’ll say yes, say no, or not respond.

Any one of those options is better than being reported.  It doesn’t matter how many followers you gain if Instagram shuts you down for Copyright infringement.

How Do I Handle Reposting on Instagram?

When I want to repost something, I always ask permission first.  In the form of a comment on the image. And remember to tag the account owner.

I say it’s a beautiful image and ask if I can repost and give them credit.

And when they say yes, which they usually do, I use the app “Repost for Instagram”.  It lets you give credit right on the image.

I Wish Instagram Would Just Make a CLEAR Policy

I had to connect the dots through 3 different sections of Instagram’s Policy before finding an uncertain “answer” from Instagram.  Maybe Instagram is not the place where it’s better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission.

What rules do you follow for reposting on Instagram?  Do you ask permission or beg forgiveness?

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Until next time,

Deanna