How to configure privacy options on Instagram? step by step guide

Without a doubt, today Instagram is one of the social networks most famous in the world. which basically is a platform focused on uploading images and their treatment through retouching and advanced photographic filters, which makes it unique, exclusive and different. Considering that, can be used both personally and also business or professional.

However, like all the social platforms that operate today, Instagram it can also generate certain problems regarding the security of its users, if these do not configure the privacy options optimally. Since, it is one of the largest social networks in the world where millions of people congregate and many of them can be focused on malicious purposes.

For this reason, to allow them personalize and enhance your experience, Instagram has designed different solutions so that people can take maximum care of their privacy and security within the platform. A) Yes, it is valuable that you take into account various aspects of it, and then we will explain how you can adjust one by one.

Why is it important to correctly configure Instagram privacy?

In view of This social network is currently the most used by all kinds of people in much of the world and considering that it has more than one billion active users per month globally, it is an ideal target for cybercriminals. Taking into account that, in this context, everything you do via the Internet leaves a mark and, in a certain way, it is attractive to said bandits.

Due, It is extremely important to make use of Instagram’s privacy options and configure them correctly. In this way, to be able to protect yourself against the misdeeds with which any type of hacker wishes to stalk you, during your activity in the social network of Photographs and videos. Considering that, By default, Instagram allows any user to be your posts without any restrictions..

In this sense, it is essential that you choose to optimize your user experience in terms of security and privacy, changing the settings that the platform provides in your accounts, in a natural way. Being this, completely inadvisable, because a malicious user will have the doors open to obtain valuable information about you and use it against you.

Thus, the importance of correctly adjusting the privacy of Instagram lies in the fact that, with it, you can avoid situations that put your security at risk around your personal data or confidential information. Since, through these options, you will personalize your experience according to your requirements and in this way, the platform will guarantee you greater protection.

What are the main risks for my security in social networks?

It is no secret to anyone that, at this time, Social networks represent a fundamental part of the Internet world and they are estimated as a special tool both for private users as well as for companies and professionals. However, like everything else related to the network, these platforms can be full of daring related to security and privacy.

Therefore, the naive use of social networks could bring serious emotional, financial and even legal consequences. This, regardless of the age of the users, since, just as children and young people are considered a population at risk, adults are also part of this group and including large companies. That is why it is worth understanding What are the biggest security risks on social platforms like Instagramfor instance.

Reason why, in this section of the post, we will mention the main dangers in this regard:

• Impersonation Fraud: This is one of the most common risks of social platforms and, logically, it is characterized by violating the privacy of the real person. Since, it consists of a cyber criminal or any person, pretending to be another with the aim of damaging her image or carrying out worse actions.
• The attacks: It is defined as a technique used by computer criminals to being able to steal the credentials and passwords of the victims, with the aim of having access to their accounts on social networks. Which, part of a hoax where they send an email to people telling them that they need to update their password or personal informationaccessing a link urgently.
• spam: Through social networks, it is also possible receiving unsolicited advertising-type messages and in case of accessing them, you may be sharing your confidential data with third parties, registering on another platform or application and entering that information. Which will be collected to send Spam later.
• Malicious apps and attacks: Just as the Internet, in general terms, social networks are plagued by malicious software, both malicious applications and adware, as well as a wide variety of malicious ransomware. So, another of the dangers on these platforms is access certain malicious code embedded in a simple elementlike an image or video file, for example.

Learn step by step how to correctly configure Instagram privacy

Due to the dangers that exist in social networks globally, in the case of Instagram, it is important that you choose to make use of the privacy settings in the most peaceful way. Since, through them, you will be able to protect your movements on the platform to the maximum and, in addition, you will be able to optimize your user experience notably.

That is why, here we proceed to name which are the parameters that you can adjust according to your needs and how are each of the steps to follow to configure them correctly, without any complications:

Create a strong password

In terms of security, the most valuable advice to treasure greater protection in Instagram, it lies in create a password that is secure, strong, and unique. For this, it is relevant that you focus on that said key contain letters (both lowercase and uppercase), as well as numbers and other additional characters. Also, it is recommended to change it periodically.

In addition to this, when we point out that it is unique, we refer to the fact that is a key that you do not use in another of your online accounts. Since, by taking this particularity into account, you will be able to prevent the domino effect from occurring when someone finds out that password and with it, you can enter other of your services.

Now, to change your Instagram password successfully, you have to carry out the following process that we explain below:

• First of all, access your instagram profile and in the upper right corner, press the options icon (contains three lines in the form horizontal).
• After of it, press the “Settings” option located at the bottom of the menu.
• Next, select “Security” and there, go to the section that says “Login Security”.
• Now, click on “Password” and immediately, they will send you an email. In said email, press the button that says “Reset Password” and so, you will enter the section to change your password. Which, you must provide it in both available fields (“new password” and “repeat password”).
• Lastly, proceed to press the check located in the upper right corner and thus, the password will be stored correctly.

Set your profile as public or private

To maximize your privacy within the social network, you also need to manage your account settings regarding whether it will be public or private. Appreciating that, if you decide to make it public, any user will be able to enter and view the content you share with complete freedom.

On the contrary, if you set your profile to private, they will only be able to see your photos and videos those people you accept as contacts and for the others, the profile will be shown blocked. So, they have to send you a friend request and in case you choose to accept it, they will be able to enter your profile.

So, to adjust this parameter, you need to do the following:

• As in the previous part, access your profile and from the indicated option, go to the Settings menu of your account.
• Done this, select the option that says “Privacy”.
• Subsequently, go to the section that indicates “Connections” and press on “Account Privacy”.
• In this point, by means of the available switch, you can activate or deactivate your “Private Account”.

Define who can comment on your photos

In the case of comments that appear in your uploaded photos or videos, Instagram allows you to openly delete as many as you want, in case they are inappropriate and unpleasant annotations or violate your privacy. For which, you simply have to press and hold the comment in question to select it and press the delete option.

However, this can be tedious when dealing with numerous comments, because you will have to remove them one by one. As a consequence, the social network also offers you the possibility of have full control over who can leave comments on your posts and how.

To make this adjustment, the steps to follow are:

• through your profile, click on the option Settings at the top right and Click on “Settings”.
• Now, choose the selection called “Privacy”. There, in Interactions, Click on “Comments”.
• Once you access this section, in the part of controls, you can proceed to restrict comments from specific users on your posts. To do this, press that option and start looking for the accounts that you want to limit in this way to click on the “Block” button and ready.
• Also, in the Filters section, Instagram allows you to enable the option so that, automaticallyhide offensive comments on your posts, stories or live video. But, if you want, you can choose activate manual filter to set specific words or phrases to hide comments.

Hide photos you’ve been tagged in

For any reason, you also have the power to control or hide the photos in which you appear or, failing that, in those that other users of the platform have tagged you. Since, in your profile, there is a tab where you can see these photographs, but it may not be to your complete liking.

Therefore, if you want to prevent other people from looking at some photos, the social network allows you to determine who can tag you or even, you can force the approval of the labels. With the latter, even if other people try to include your user in their photos, the label will not be effective until you approve it.

In this case, you will have to do the following:

• from your profile, first of all, access the Settings menu of your account.
• Next, proceeds to Click on the Privacy section found in that menu.
• Followed by it, directly from the section Interactions, click on “Labels”.
• Now, proceeds to establish the required parameters in “Allow tags from”. There, you can choose between: Everyone, People You Follow, or Nobody (just by clicking on the desired option).
• Additionally, in “Tagged Posts”select the option “Manually Approve Labels” to activate this solution and with it, define which are the photographs in which you prefer to accept the labeling manually.

Set the privacy of your stories

In this network, one of the most used elements, are the Instagram Stories. Through which, generally, users show what they do in their day to day and they usually upload much more personal content. Which is why, to protect yourself from cybercriminals, you also it is important that you configure the privacy of your stories.

In that sense, if you don’t want everyone to be able to see your stories on the platform, there are two solutions you can choose between. Either block specific people from viewing such content in Instagram or, on the other hand, create a list of best friends and that these are the only ones with the power to see the content in question.

Thus, to carry out this configuration, the following steps must be executed:

• Through your profile enter the settings Instagram Y select the Privacy option. This, as we have explained in the previous adjustments.
• Followed by that, go to the section that says “Interactions” and proceed to choose “History”.
• Next, when you access the indicated section, you have to focus on the first two sections. To start with, you can hide your stories from certain users of the social network. In this case, proceed to search for said accounts and select them in the list obtained.
• Secondly, in “Best friends” The platform allows you to create a list of those who you prefer to view your instagram stories. In this case, also you must look for their accounts and choose them.

Block annoying or toxic users

Fortunately, this social network also allows you block or restrict any number of users, so that they cannot access your profile and not even find you within the platform. In general, it is a solution that is used to avoid having contact with annoying or toxic people who are active on Instagram and do not allow you to enjoy a good user experience.

But, before explaining what you have to do to carry out this type of configuration, it is important to teach you the difference between blocking an Instagram user and restricting it:

• Block: If you choose to block an account on this social network, you will practically cease to exist for that user. Since, won’t be able to find your profile, view your posts or access your stories. That is to say, it will be as if you disappeared from it forever.
• To restrict: In this case, the person in question will be able to continue seeing your publications and even writing to you, but in a limited way. Since, only you and he will be able to see the comments he makes on your posts. Therefore, it is as if it will cease to exist for your other followers around your activities on the platform.

Now, to block an Instagram user, the steps to follow consist of:

• To start, enter the profile of the user you want to block from your Instagram account.
• Then, go to the upper right corner of the panel and press the icon of the three points vertically.
• Once the above is done, a small pop-up menu will appear and in it, it is necessary that select the option that says “Block”.
• To conclude, just confirm the action by clicking again on Block and ready.

On the other hand, to see the users you have blocked from your profile, you have to carry out the following procedure:

• In your profile, tap the Settings icon and select the option “Setting”. From there, click on Privacy.
• Later, go to the Connections section, to click on “Blocked Accounts” and in that section, you will see each and every one of the accounts that you have limited in this way.

Define restricted accounts

As we pointed out before, just as you can block certain users from your Instagram account, you can also restrict them. That way, even if that person tries to interact with you, these actions will not be visible to your other followers.

To do this, the steps to follow are similar to the previous procedure and basically consist of:

• The first thing you have to do is search and enter the profile of the Instagram user you want to restrict from now on
• Next, press the icon of the three points vertically that are in the upper right corner and in the small pop-up menu that they show you there, press the “Restrict” option.
• Lastly, you have to confirm the action by clicking on Restrict, again. That’s it.

Apart from this, if you later want to see the list of user accounts that you have restricted, the procedure to follow is:

• Enter the menu of “Setting” of your account and click on Privacy.
• After this, go to the Connections section and Choose “Restricted Accounts” to observe each and every one of the accounts that you have conditioned in that way.

Mute accounts of other users

This refers to a solution that it is based on a reversible management that goes unnoticed by the user or account silenced. Thus, an action that does not prevent you from continuing to view the publications of said person or receive messages from him. So, it is a type of adjustment that was designed so that users can stop seeing those publications or stories that do not interest them.

However, since it is an action that can be reversed, at any time it will be possible to reactivate that person to see all their publicationswithout limitation.

Therefore, if you want to make use of this configuration, the process to carry out is based on the following:

• To start, find the profile of the user account you want to mute on Instagram and enter it.
• Once you are on the main page of said profile, press the button that says “Following” (of course, it has to be a person you follow on the platform).
• Once the above is done, the system will show you several options in a small menu at the bottom and there, you will see an option that says “Mute” that you will have to press.
• Then, using the appropriate switches, it is enough to activate the option(s) you want. Taking into account that, you can mute both posts and stories or just some of these.

On the other hand, if you want to see which and how many users you have chosen to mute in your account Instagram, Simply go to the section Privacy in you Setting Y from the “Connections” sectionpress on “Accounts silenced” where you will see the complete list.

Define your best friends

Although it is true, the best friends of Instagram make reference to a list of users you want to share your stories with, basically in a more private way. Thus, only these specific people will be able to see certain content, to the extent of your preferences.

Now, its main premise is that you have the power to share Instagram Stories only with some trusted accounts, in order to obtain a higher level of privacy on the social network. Taking into account that it is a function that, as well as delimits the visualization of the stories, it also does it with convincing publications. This will only be known by those users that you have added to your list of best friends.

Now, to start creating your best friends on Instagram and define them with complete freedom, you will have to do the following:

• Through your profile click on the three horizontal lines icon to access the Settings menu of your account.
• After that, click on the option that says “Privacy” and go to the Connections section.
• Finally, from there, select the option “Best friends” and proceeds to press the button that indicates “Start”. That way, you can search for each of the accounts to add and that’s it.

Among other details, we note that, You can also do this through the profile of each of the users. To do this, press the button that says “Following” and then, press the option “Add to the list of best friends”. However, it is considered a more tedious.