Last night, I logged into my Instagram account and viewed the Settings tab to see how much data the platform had collected on me.
Under Settings, I tapped on the Security tab and I was shocked to see over 100 websites listed there.
All of influencer Moriah Mills’ pages that I visited were listed there. And the grocery store that delivers my groceries were listed there as well.
According to Wired UK, Instagram tracks 25 categories of information on every user.
I don’t have a Facebook page, but it’s still tracking me all over the Internet because Facebook owns Instagram.
How to stop Instagram from tracking you
The Security menu gives you the option of clearing your history. But there’s no option to stop IG or FB from collecting your data.
I gave up my right to privacy when I agreed to the Terms and Conditions upon signing up.
Instagram collects a ton of data on users to generate its advertising revenue, which is estimated at $20 billion a year.
The app uses your personal data to figure out which ads you’re more likely to click on.
Social media apps are free because YOU are the product
Other than deleting the app totally, there’s very little you can do to stop Instagram (and its parent company Facebook) from tracking you on its platform and all over the web.
Facebook’s Pixel is a tiny 1×1 pixel code that’s on nearly every website on the Internet. That’s how Facebook is able to track every website you visit and every purchase you make online.
I downloaded an app that blocks JavaScript so websites can’t track me. I never see any ads on Instagram since I have Facebook blocked.
Even if I clear my history in Instagram’s Security tab, the data is only deleted locally (on my device).
Instagram and Facebook still knows what pages and websites you visited, every purchase you made and everything you search for.
Your Contacts
This page allows you to see all of your phone contacts and delete them. But it won’t stop Instagram or Facebook from storing any new contacts you add to your phone.
No Advertising
I never see any ads in Instagram since I have Facebook blocked. But if you don’t like an individual ad, you can hide it by tapping the three dots that appear next to the ad, then tap Hide.
If you’re fed up with Instagram tracking you, you can delete the app permanently. But you can’t delete Instagram from within the app. You have to delete it here.
“When you delete your account, your profile, photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers will be permanently removed,” the company says. Or you can temporarily disable your account here.
