{"id":62663,"date":"2017-01-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-01-26T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/foxtail\/2017\/01\/26\/instagrams-privacy-settings\/"},"modified":"2017-01-26T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-01-26T00:00:00","slug":"instagrams-privacy-settings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/firefox\/instagrams-privacy-settings\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Instagram’s privacy settings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
Looking for password tips? Check out the Guide to Safer Logins<\/a>.<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

In our increasingly visual online world, Instagram<\/a> plays a big role in the social media butterfly\u2019s life. It\u2019s often one of the first social platform newcomers join when they get a smartphone, because everything about it is easy — posting photos, making them look good with filters, adding some trending hashtags and showing friends some love. It\u2019s also easy to trade away your privacy, but here\u2019s how to take some of it back. Get started by opening the Instagram app on your mobile device.<\/p>\n

Make your account private<\/h2>\n

When you join Instagram, your account is set to public by default so that anyone can see your photos and comments. For a higher level of personal privacy, switch your account to private, which will allow only your approved followers see your photos and posts. Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n

\"instagram-private-account\"<\/p>\n

Set up blocks<\/h2>\n

If your account is public, but you want to stop specific account holders (randos, specific creepers, spammers or brands) from seeing, liking and commenting on your photos, you can block them. Go to their profile, tap the three dots, then tap Block user<\/b>. Just know that blocked users can still see any comments and likes you make on other public accounts.<\/p>\n

\"block-followers-screenshot-arrows\"<\/p>\n

Thanks, but no thanks, for the suggestions<\/h2>\n

After someone follows you on Instagram, they’ll be shown suggested profiles to follow based on who you follow. If you want to opt out of that, tap through to edit your profile<\/a>. Then deselect Similar Account Suggestions<\/i>.<\/p>\n

According to Instagram, \u201cwhen you opt out of account suggestions on your profile, you won’t appear as a suggestion on someone else’s profile either.\u201d Apparently some account holders strive to be featured on Instagram\u2019s Suggested User List (more followers! more likes!), but it all sounds very Black Mirror \u201cNosedive<\/a>\u201d to me.<\/p>\n