I came across this blog post a few days ago: http://angiemakes.com/improper-use-social-media-icons/

 

In a nutshell, it says that all the fancy social media icons that you often see on websites are against the rules set by Facebook, google etc.

 

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

So long as you adhere to their logo usage guidelines there shouldn't be a problem. That post sort of suggest the author broke them?

Yes, she did

 

I have seen so many websites with customised buttons, and come across social media icon sets to download for free, or for sale - I hadn't realised that it was something I shouldn't do. So many things to learn

Yes I've built sites where the designer has done their own icons (despite me suggesting otherwise!).

 

Icon sets are probably a grey area. If the icons follow the spirit of the original logos then the companies probably wouldn't worry "too much", conversely, as the article suggests, any major deviation and they start getting heavy!