Is Instagram Spying On Me?

Have you ever thought that maybe your phone is listening to your conversations? There has been plenty of speculation in recent years whether or not our apps and devices may be listening to or even watching us.

A recent story was released revealing that a couple was discussing their house interior and later saw an ad for the exact setup they were discussing. The Instagram user Brittany Conditi filed a lawsuit against the company. Is this just a coincidence or could Instagram have accessed their iPhone camera? This is an extreme invasion of privacy and Instagram is receiving significant backlash for allegedly spying on users.

Stories like the case of Brittany Conditi make the speculation of Instagram and other apps and platforms spying on phone users believable. People store lots of information on their devices, and it is important to make sure they take the right precautions to protect their personal data. This makes you wonder if our apps are collecting lucrative or valuable data?

What Are The Policies?

It is crucial to read Instagram’s terms of use and data policy to truly understand what they can utilize on your device. In general, Instagram collects different data sets from an account to help advertisers appear as a result of your interests. Are the rumors true? Can Instagram be spying on you or are they really collecting valuable insights and market data?

Almost everything we do on Instagram is tracked to know how long you are on a post, if you like it, and can almost predict your next move. They say it is only for “advertising”, however, it is much more advanced than that. The company can determine what type of device you are logging in from, the location, and other device data. Besides deleting the app, there are methods to protect your personal data from Instagram.

Stop Instagram Spying Today!

There is no way to know for sure when apps have access to your camera, but there are many ways to help protect your private information and posts with the security features on your device. The app may only be obtaining data for marketing purposes, but how can people be sure confidential data is not being collected? Put an end to your Instagram accessing information from your device today and utilize these features.

Instagram Permissions

It is essential to know what apps are accessing specific features on your device. Like most other apps, Instagram will ask for permission to access your camera, location, microphone, and other features that may be utilized within the app. You can adjust what apps have access to specific features on both Android and Apple devices in the Settings app on the device. Once you are in Settings, locate App Permissions and tap on the Instagram icon. Then, see what features the app has access to on your device.

Within Instagram, you can limit who can contact you or view your photos in the app by setting your Instagram account to private. With the millions of people on the social media app, it is crucial to make sure you know what apps have access to your phone features and who can see your profile.

Ads

As we have seen Facebook try to do in previous years, the platforms are all filled with ads. Facebook is the ad server for Instagram, and everything you see is run through the parent company. The ads that appear on your Instagram feed are based on what Facebook and Instagram think will interest you. You can adjust Instagram ad settings including Ad Preferences and Ad topics. To access this, click on the hamburger menu on your profile → Settings → Ads.

Although Instagram is being sued for allegedly spying on its users, is Instagram even safe? Well, there are still many threats on the app and other social media platforms with spam accounts, bullying, cyber-criminals, and other common threats. Also, someone could utilize an Instagram spy app to spy on your Instagram posts, messages, and more.

It is crucial to always have your device backed up in case it is stolen or exposed to one of the threats on Instagram. Do not go another day with your device exposed, protect it and stop unauthorized spying today.