How Does Instagram Know What I Google?
On Instagram, it is not uncommon to come across ads related to your recent searches on Google or other websites. This occurrence has led many people to discuss how the parent company, Meta, utilizes user data, which indeed holds truth.
Similar to its subsidiary platform, Facebook, Instagram employs tracking mechanisms to gather information about your internet activities and serve retargeted advertisements. But how does Instagram gain knowledge of your Google searches?
In this article, we will delve into the concept of cookies, the workings of retargeted ads, and shed light on why Instagram seemingly knows the content of your recent Google searches conducted on your phone.
Contents
Instagram, Cookies, and Retargeted Ads
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, generates billions of dollars in advertising revenue each year across its platforms. It is a common practice for social media platforms and free websites to rely on advertisements as a means of sustaining their operations.
When you visit a website, you may often encounter a pop-up notification stating that the website uses “cookies.” These cookies are small pieces of data that are stored on your device and help track your browsing activity.
Cookies
These widely known “cookies” are referred to as HTTP cookies, internet cookies, or browser cookies. They are small packets of data that are transferred by the websites you visit on your computer while browsing the internet.
These cookies play a significant role in tracking your online activities. The websites you visit may share or sell this data to third parties, including Instagram. Alternatively, Instagram may have agreements in place to directly collect information from these websites.
The purpose of these cookies is to keep a record of the web pages you visit, the content you search for, your engagement with related searches, and the duration of your visits to specific pages.
Instagram utilizes this collected data to deliver retargeted advertisements on your Instagram feed. Ad retargeting is a marketing strategy that has proven to yield high conversion rates for many businesses.
Retargeted Ads
Retargeted ads are a form of “re-marketing” strategy that allows advertisements to follow internet users across various platforms after they have searched for or purchased a particular product. The goal is to personalize ads and analyze consumer activities in order to increase the likelihood of potential customers making a purchase.
According to statistics, businesses that utilize retargeting ads tend to generate at least three times more revenue compared to those that do not employ this strategy.
Instagram and websites that trade in your cookies often have partnerships to ensure mutual profitability. By granting Instagram access to your data, you enable this ongoing process of targeted advertising while using the platform and browsing other websites.
Although there is a dedicated section for ads on Instagram, even if you disable ad data from Instagram partners, it does not guarantee the removal of ads from your Instagram feed. However, the ads you receive may be less relevant compared to the personalized retargeted ads.
How To Switch Off Ads Data From Instagram Partners
To limit Instagram’s access to your data from its partners for the purpose of delivering retargeted ads, you can disable this function in your Instagram settings. Here are the steps to follow on your iOS or Android device:
- Launch the Instagram application.
- Tap on the profile icon located in the bottom right corner.
- Tap the hamburger menu icon in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings and Privacy.”
- Choose “Accounts Centre” at the top.
- Select the “Ad Preferences” option.
- Tap on “Ad Settings.”
- Choose “Activity Information from Ad Partners.”
- On the next page, tap the “Review Setting” button.
- Select the option “No, don’t make my ads more relevant by using this information.”
However, it is important to note that disabling this setting does not completely disable targeted ads on Instagram. You may still receive ads based on your activities on Instagram itself, as well as from certain businesses and individuals with whom you share devices and connections.
Therefore, if you choose to use Instagram, you should be aware that some level of data sharing and ad targeting is inherent to the platform.
How To Post Vertical Photos on Instagram
How Can I Control Instagram From Accessing My Data From Other Websites?
It is challenging to completely prevent Instagram from accessing your data as long as cookies and partnerships exist in the online world.
However, if you are concerned about the invasion of privacy and want to limit how the platform utilizes your data, there are a few solutions you can consider. One option is to regularly clear your browsing data and history, which can help remove some of the stored information that Instagram relies on for targeted ads. Another alternative is to delete the Instagram app from your device, which would effectively halt your direct interaction with the platform.
While these measures may help to some extent, it’s important to note that other websites and online services may still collect and use your data. Ultimately, the decision to use Instagram or any other online platform involves weighing the benefits against potential privacy concerns.
Method #1: Clearing Your Browsing Data and History
Websites that store cookies on your computer can be affected when you clear your browser history and data.
To ensure a thorough clearing of your browsing history and data, it’s important to access the advanced settings of your browser. In addition to clearing pages, you should also delete browsing and download history, cookies, site settings, and cache images and files. It is advisable to leave your saved passwords untouched for added convenience.
Here are the general steps to clear browsing data and history from Google Chrome on your mobile device:
- Launch Google Chrome on your PC.
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner.
- Click on “History” or press “Ctrl+H” on your keyboard to open your browsing history.
- Click on “Clear browsing data.”
- Go to the “Advanced” tab for more data options and select the ones you want to clear.
- Click on the “Clear data” button.
While clearing your browsing history and data can help limit data exploitation by Instagram, it is important to note that if a website is a partner of the platform and has shared your data, you may still receive targeted ads. This is something that you cannot control as long as you continue using the platform.
Method #2: Delete the App
Deleting the Instagram application is indeed an effective way to prevent the platform from accessing your data. However, considering its importance and relevance to many users, completely deleting the app may not be desirable for everyone.
Alternatively, you have the option to delete your Instagram account. However, it’s important to note that you cannot directly delete your account from the app itself; you can only disable it temporarily. Instagram provides an external link that allows you to permanently delete your account.
If you choose to delete your Instagram account, follow these steps:
- Visit the Instagram website using a web browser on your computer or mobile device.
- Log in to your account.
- Go to the account deletion page (you can find the link in Instagram’s Help Center or search for “delete Instagram account”).
- Follow the instructions provided on the page to permanently delete your account.
By deleting your Instagram account, you can ensure that your data is no longer accessible by the platform. However, please be aware that this action is irreversible, and you will lose all your content and followers.
Conclusion
With this information, you now have an understanding of how Instagram gains insights into your online activities and browsing habits.
Unfortunately, there are limited actions you can take to prevent this data collection as long as you agree to the terms and conditions when creating an account with Instagram.
It’s important to be aware of the privacy implications and decide whether the benefits of using Instagram outweigh the potential invasions of your online privacy. Always ensure to review and understand the terms and conditions of any platform or service you choose to use.
