Some of this is inevitable when you use the app. However, there are ways to secure your Instagram account and limit the data that Meta and other parties can access. Here’s how to optimize your privacy settings on Instagram: If you want to access the web anonymously and prevent third parties from tracking you online, we recommend using a virtual private network (VPN) like NordVPN. Instagram knows a lot about you. It tracks your online activities, collecting data on what you do online and the ads you respond to. Instagram’s privacy practices are one of the most invasive among the top apps today. A 2021 study by pCloud found that Instagram collects and shares vast amounts of user data with third parties. Deleting Instagram is not your only recourse to escaping Meta’s invasive privacy practices. There are ways to limit the personal information you make available to the app and other users. Most users don’t consider Instagram privacy, but you can edit a few settings to make your account more private and secure.
The Best Instagram Privacy Settings
The privacy settings we highlight below are in the same place on the Instagram app. Then, you should see Privacy near the top of the list. Most settings we recommend below are there, but some might be under Security. Let’s quickly go over how to optimize your privacy settings on Instagram.
1. Make your account private
This is one of the most important changes you can make on Instagram. Making your account private will prevent strangers from seeing your Instagram posts and interacting with you. Only followers can see what you’re up to, and you’ll need to approve follow requests manually. Instagram rolls out some updates to users in particular countries before others. So, the layout and features of your Instagram app may be different from that of users in other countries. Nonetheless, you should be able to find all these settings we highlight below. Making your Instagram account private is easy to do. Here’s a step-by-step guide: Setting your account to private also prevents Instagram from displaying your posts in the Photos tab of Search and Explore. Note: Making your Instagram account private won’t hide your profile picture and bio. To revert to a public profile, follow the same steps and tap on the slider again.
2. Hide your Activity Status
Instagram’s Activity Status lets your followers see when you’re online or when you were last active. This can be a privacy concern if you don’t want to broadcast when you’re online to everyone who follows you. Instagram shows your Activity Status by default. But you can hide it by following these steps: This will hide your status from everyone. Hiding your Activity Status may not be your first concern when you think about Instagram privacy, but it can prevent others from tracking your online activity.
3. Update your Story settings
You can tweak your Story settings to secure your privacy on Instagram. Here’s how to go about it: Stories are a big part of Instagram, so it’s smart to tweak who can see them and how other people can interact with your stories. If you want more privacy, consider creating a “finsta account” or a burner account without personal details. A “finsta” (abbreviated from “friends Insta”) is a secondary account where you follow a small number of people and keep everything private. People usually create a “finsta” account to post freely, knowing they won’t be scrutinized by employers, acquaintances, or judgmental relatives. While this is not an Instagram setting, it can be a great option to maximize your privacy without making many changes to your primary account.
4. Enable two-factor authentication
We strongly recommend enabling two-factor authentication on all your accounts, including Instagram. Thousands of accounts are breached daily. Two-factor authentication adds a layer of protection to prevent unauthorized access to your account. When you enable two-factor authentication on Instagram, every time you log in to a new device, you must confirm it’s you with a third device, like your phone or tablet. So, even if someone cracked your Instagram password, they still can’t access your account. Here’s how to enable two-factor authentication on Instagram:
5. Remove Instagram access to your device location
If you ever wanted to add your location to a post or story, you probably gave Instagram access to your location. And that’s still active. Even if you have never posted your location since then, Instagram still tracks it. Since you can always browse and choose your location when posting something, giving Instagram access to your location is unnecessary. Here’s how to block Instagram from accessing your location: This may be a good time to review the permissions you give other apps on your phone. Read our article about the privacy risks of your smartphone to find out more.
6. Disable non-essential cookies
One of the ways Instagram’s parent company, Meta, earns revenue is by monetizing user data, including selling it to advertisers and other third parties. That’s the price for using Instagram and other Meta services. However, you can limit how much data Meta collects by disabling non-essential cookies. Here’s how: This will stop other companies from sharing data about you with Instagram. You will also stop getting personalized ads from Meta on other sites you visit.
7. Change your ad preferences by topic
Have you ever seen an ad so accurate you thought Instagram was reading your mind? If product recommendations ever feel too personal, you can edit the category of the Instagram ads you see. This can be useful if you’re trying to stop spending money on something or want a clean feed. Here’s how to change your ad preferences on Instagram: Unfortunately, you can’t stop receiving ads from a topic altogether, and this option won’t affect the total number of ads you see. But it’s a nice way to customize at least a part of what you see.
8. Block or limit interactions with specific accounts
If someone’s stalking you on social media or you want to hide your Instagram stories, reels, and posts from others, you can block them. Here’s how to go about it: Although accounts you block aren’t notified, some people still feel apprehensive about outright blocking someone. If you’re not comfortable blocking someone, you can limit the interaction they can have with you. Here’s how:
Restrict an account. They’ll still be able to see your account, but they won’t see your Activity Status and won’t see that you’ve read their messages. If they ever comment on your posts, other people won’t see their comments. You can also decide if you want to see their comments or otherwise. Hide your stories from that account. See detailed instructions above. Remove that account from your followers. To do this, browse through your followers and tap Remove.
9. Modify how Instagram users interact with you
By default, anyone can message you on Instagram. The same goes for mentions, comments, and more. If you want to change how people can interact with you, here’s what you can do: If you set your account to private, Instagram protects your interactions. But if you want to take your privacy even further, the Interactions menu has many useful options. For example, under Hidden Words, you can filter the comments you see by the words they contain. This is extremely useful if you want to make your profile a safe space for you and your friends.
10. Don’t sync your contacts with Instagram
Instagram takes a lot of liberties with your data when making similar account suggestions and when recommending your account to other people. One of the ways they do this is by using your contacts to recommend accounts. Here’s how to stop this:
11. Review your Instagram data
Thanks to the GDPR, Instagram is mandated to give you every data they have about you. There are different ways to get this report. On most mobile devices, you’ll need to: If you need further instructions on how to request your data, read Instagram’s guide on accessing your data.
12. Clear your Instagram browsing data
Have you ever clicked an Instagram link and used the default browser? While it may be convenient, it invades your privacy. The default Instagram browser stores everything you do. Luckily, it’s really easy to wipe this data. Here’s how: For improved privacy, consider using a safer browser for Instagram links. While copying the links to pages you want to open is not very user-friendly, that extra step is worth it to safeguard your privacy.
Why Privacy on Instagram Should Concern You
Meta, Instagram’s parent company, has a history of violating users’ privacy. The Cambridge Analytica scandal is probably the biggest example.
In 2012, a few months after Facebook purchased Instagram, the company received backlash due to an update to its terms of service that said Instagram could sell Instagram user photos without compensation. The company was forced to backtrack on the plan.
In another notable incident in 2022, Ireland’s privacy watchdog fined Instagram €405 million for mishandling teens’ data. Our guide to Instagram safety for kids contains some useful tips on how to keep your children safe online.
The threat on Instagram extends beyond Meta’s voracious appetite for user data. There are numerous Instagram scams to keep an eye out for. Malicious actors are always on the prowl on popular social media platforms like Instagram.
Following cybersecurity safety practices and taking other steps to protect your privacy, like using a virtual private network (VPN), can limit exposure to online threats. A VPN can safeguard your privacy by hiding your IP address, encrypting your data, and even unblocking geo-restrictions.
We’ve tested dozens of VPNs, and NordVPN is our top pick. With super-fast speeds, a vast array of servers, advanced security features, and excellent unblocking capabilities, you can’t go wrong with this provider.
Conclusion: Securing Your Privacy Online
Taking time to review the privacy settings of your apps is a good practice to keep your information secure. Companies like Instagram change their privacy policies periodically, so you must review your privacy settings regularly. Interested in tweaking your privacy settings on other apps? Check out the articles below to get started.
How to Change Your Google Privacy Settings Facebook Privacy Settings: The Ultimate Guide How to Improve Your Twitter Privacy Settings How to Optimize Your Snapchat Privacy Settings – A Full Guide Have You Updated Your Privacy Settings on Skype? Have You Checked Your WhatsApp Privacy Settings?
