Re: Opt out ?
"I don't understand how posting my photo on social media can mean I no longer have copyright over it"
You do still have copyright, although if you posted it through a company they might assume copyright, take a non-exclusive licence, or something similar.
"if I post a copy of someone else's copyrighted work they can sue me."
This is like saying 'if I leave my laptop outside the house with a 'this is free' sign outside then that's fine, but when I take someone else's laptop and do that, I'm suddenly a criminal'.