Dangers Of Technology: Instagram

I'm not one who is attracted to the app, Instagram. 
Mainly because people my age use is to take 'selfies' (pictures of themselves) and post them for people to see. I never look good when I take a selfie - I think it's my short arm span. 
It has attracted 100 million users as of May 2013, with 4 billion photos. 

Like any piece of technology, if you're a user you need to check your privacy settings, amongst other things. 
Blocking - if you find someone is taking your images and using them for use you don't like, you can block them. You can block anyone who you don't wish to be viewing your profile. 
Geotagging - it is turned off by default, but if turned on it automatically sends out the location of where the picture was taken to your followers and the public (if you don't have privacy settings). 
You can also report a photo - more info for protecting your privacy can be found here. 

While Instagram is used as a tool to take and manipulate amazing, beautiful photos and share them with the ones you love, there are always going to be people who abuse the app. 
With the certain 'anonymity' that comes with Instagram (well the Internet in general, really) it's not surprising that it is used to display sexual photos and content. 
There are even hash-tag terms #instaporn and #instasex, for people who want to find and spread the content of these types of images. 
More about this can be found here.

Then today I read an article on NineMSN. It can be found right here. 
Reading the title, I thought it was going to be about a teenager who was abusing the app to get attention from boys, but was horrified when I read what it was really about. 
This scares me more than anything. That there are some sicko's out there who would steal pictures of a baby/child and use them for a 'sexualised role-playing' game. Urgh, the thought sends shivers up my spine. 
This is a complete new danger that isn't thought about. It's one that is so sick, the thought that someone would create this (then have people play it) is just....urgh, again I'm disgusted. 
The creators of Instagram have since deleted the sicko's account and search and delete others they find.  

I believe it is unfortunate that an app like this, which is clever, popular, fun and easy to use gets manipulated and abused, becoming an app used for the wrong reasons (by some). 

While I may not have Instagram I believe it's still a great tool, and if used correctly a total time consumer of entertainment. 
If you have Instagram remember to check your privacy settings on occasion (and make sure geotagging is turned off!)
If you're a parent remember to warn your teenager of the dangers - of the Internet in general really. Also I read that the terms of use say that if you're under 12 you can't actually join anyway; something to ponder. 

I believe people need to be wary of the dangers that Instagram (along with other Internet sites) pose.