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Jonathan Yngfors
19,290 PointsUsing social media icons on website
How about using other designs of social media icons on websites? The social media companies have special rules for their share buttons and logos but it seems like everyone is using their own design.
4 Answers
Kevin Korte
28,149 PointsYou're right, the internet is full of illegitimate icons. When it doubt, almost all major social media sites have branding guidelines that do a decent job of breaking down the do's and don'ts in laymen's terms for us non-lawyer types. After all, we're developers, not lawyers.
As long as you follow their branding guidelines, you'll be fine. And if you make an honest mistake, and they catch you on it, they'll only reach out to you to please ask you to modify their logo to fall within their guidelines. They're not going to send their team of $1,000 an hour lawyers after you.
So read the guidelines, do what you think is best and correct, and don't worry about the rest.
Ran ShemTov
14,148 PointsEach company has its own rules for using their brand on your website. You can choose what style you want to use for your website, as long as it doesn't violate the main guidelines and rules of that social media network. For example (and I'm just making that up, yet it sounds quite logical) You won't be able to have a facebook button with facebook's "f" letter all in red. Since a part of the branding is keeping it blue. Again, this is not a real rule, but it makes sense. Check out each social media's terms of use to learn more
Jonathan Yngfors
19,290 PointsThank you for the answer! :) But everyone is tweaking the logos, like Treehouse do in the footer (they have grey social media logos which become green when hovered. Is that ok?
roberthopman
16,502 PointsHey Jonathan,
it's the internet... Rules (outside of criminal activites) are vague.
You can probably use the logo as you want, as long as you don't disrespect it.
How do you want to use them?
Jonathan Yngfors
19,290 PointsOk , I understand what you mean. I am going to use social media share buttons in a WordPress blog with a design that follow my visual profile. Thanks for the answer! :)
roberthopman
16,502 PointsCool and if you want feedback, let me know! :)