Instagram offers various features that allow you to modulate your image and visibility, such as setting your account to private or controlling who can see your stories.
However, a private account does not completely shield your data from Instagram itself, which still collects data for business analytics.
Instagram constantly collects data, from your likes and shares to the time spent on certain posts, and uses it for business purposes.
Sharing your location on Instagram can be dangerous as it can invite unwanted risks by disclosing where you are in real time.
Third-party applications can request access to your Instagram data, which can lead to privacy risks, so it's crucial to scrutinize any apps before granting access.
In response to concerns, Instagram rolled out several tools aimed at giving users more control over their information, but ultimately, the responsibility lies with the users.
It's essential to establish personal guidelines for how much of your real life is on public display to maintain authenticity without risking your privacy.
Instagram uses targeted advertising, but users can manage their ad preferences to reduce how much targeted information appears.
Instagram's community guidelines don't always extend their reach into broader privacy issues, so users must report any accounts or content that puts their privacy at risk.
To maintain privacy, you must balance between sharing your world and safeguarding your personal information.