Instagram makes big money from ads, and to make those ads super effective, it keeps tabs on everything you do online, both on and off the app. It’s like a digital shadow that follows you around, taking notes on your every move. This allows the service to personalize your experience andbombard you with targeted ads. Thankfully, Meta provides tools tomanage our privacy settings, including a feature called “Activity Off-Meta Technologies” (formerly known as off-Facebook activity), which lets you peek into Facebook’s secret dossier on your online activities when you’re not on the app. That same feature is nowcoming to Instagram, so you can finally see what the app knows about your life outside the platform.
If you’re tired of Instagram following you around the internet, Meta has made it easier to tell the app to back off with the expansion of their “Activity Off-Meta Technologies” tool to the photo and video sharing app. This privacy feature was previously exclusive to Facebook, allowing you to block the social media giant’s relentless tracking of your online activities.
Instagram users now have the same level of control over their privacy. You can see which companies are collecting your data and choose to disconnect specific ones. Or, if you’re feeling extra privacy-conscious, you can wipe out all the collected data in one fell swoop.
To access this setting, head over to theAccounts Centerpage, your one-stop shop for managing your Meta profiles across apps, including your separate Facebook and Instagram accounts. This is also where you candownload a copy of the information Meta has on your accounts. To find this privacy hub, simply dive into theSettingsmenu on the Instagram app.
If you want tomove your Instagram photos and videos to other apps or serviceswithout breaking a sweat, Meta has you covered. It has expanded the “Transfer Your Information” tool (once a Facebook-exclusive feature, too) to Instagram.
Instagram is constantly gathering clues about your interests from your app usage, phone activities, and even your browsing habits across the web. The goal is to craft personalized ads that are most likely to catch your eye. Meta has been trying to make this data-driven ad targeting a bit more transparent, with updates like a redesigned Accounts Center hub, explanations for why you see certain ads, and a new ad distribution system. It even has a system that captures your activity on supported websites to show you “useful” coupons and promotions.
Meta has been under fire for how it handles user data, with critics raising concerns about how it tracks user activity, targets ads, and the potential for data misuse. In response, regulators such as the European Union have increased their scrutiny of the company’s practices, often resulting in hefty fines.
