How to Stop Ad Tracking On Instagram

Have you ever searched the internet for a new pair of shoes, only to be attacked with adverts for those same shoes on Instagram? 

It's not magic; it's ad tracking. While Instagram can not be completely stopped from tracking your activities, there are techniques to minimize the data it collects and improve the relevancy of the ads it displays. 

In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to disable ad tracking on Instagram and regain control of your experience.

What is Ad Tracking?

Ad tracking, also known as post-testing or ad effectiveness tracking, is an in-market research method that measures a brand's performance, including brand and advertising awareness, product trial and usage, and attitudes about the brand compared to its competitors.

How Does Ad Tracking Work on Instagram?

Instagram ad tracking functions similarly to many other advertising networks. Here's a breakdown of the main ways.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

• When you visit a website or use an app, they may save little data files known as cookies to your device. 
• These cookies monitor your surfing history, including your interests and demographics. 
• Instagram can use this information to create a profile about you and target adverts based on your online activity.

In-App Activity

• Your actions within Instagram are also tracked. 
• This includes the content you like, comment on, bookmark, and even the accounts you follow. 
• Instagram may learn about your tastes and adapt adverts based on this data.

Facebook Pixel

• Because Instagram is owned by Facebook, they can use its pixels for even more detailed tracking. 
• This pixel, which is placed on websites you visit, tracks your behavior and sends it back to Facebook (and, subsequently, Instagram) to help develop a more thorough user profile.

Device Information

• Basic information from your device, such as the operating system, location (if enabled), and IP address, can also be utilized for advertising purposes. 
• This allows advertisers to target consumers with relevant adverts based on their location or the sort of device they are using.

Who Is Tracking Ads?

Ad tracking on Instagram is a collaborative effort among a few important players:

Instagram

• As the platform that displays the adverts, Instagram is key to tracking user activity and creating profiles based on that data. 
• They utilize this information to choose and display advertisements to consumers.

Advertisers

• Businesses and people who pay to advertise on Instagram are looking to reach specific audiences. 
• They use Instagram's ad monitoring to target their ads efficiently.

Third-Party Data Providers

• In some situations, Instagram may use data from third-party firms that specialize in gathering user information across several websites and applications. 
• This additional data can help advertisers target their audiences more effectively.

Your Device

• While not actively tracking, your device (phone, computer, etc.) contributes by storing cookies and other tracking components inserted by the websites and apps you use.

How to Stop Ad Tracking on Instagram by Following These Simple Steps

Here are the steps you must follow to stop ad tracking on Instagram:

1. First of all, open your Instagram app on your smartphone or go to instagram.com and log in to your account if you are using a laptop or PC.
2. After that click on the More option from the left panel on the screen.

3. After that click on the Settings option from the menu.

4. Then click on the Account Center button on the next page.

5. After that click on the Ad Preferences option on the left panel and then click on the Manage Info option on the right side of the screen.

6. Then click on the Information Used to Show You Ads option on the right side of the screen.

7. After that click on the Review Setting button on the popup window.

8. After that click on the option that says No, don't make my ads more relevant by using this information and then click on the Confirm button.

That is it, this is how you can stop tracking ads on Instagram.

Important Things to Keep In Mind Before Stopping Ad Tracking on Instagram

Here are some crucial things to remember before deactivating ad tracking on Instagram:

Generic Ads

• If you restrict tracking, you may notice more generic advertisements that aren't relevant to your interests. 
• These advertisements may be less intriguing and less likely to attract your attention.

Trade-Off

• Stopping ad tracking improves privacy but may result in a less tailored experience. 
• Consider how much privacy control you value versus the convenience of seeing relevant adverts.

Not Able to Fully Remove Tracking

• Even with minimal tracking, Instagram will acquire some data about your behavior. 
• To completely disable all tracking, third-party programs are normally required, or the platform should be avoided altogether.

Supporting Businesses

• Targeted advertisements can assist small businesses in reaching their intended audience. 
• Limiting tracking may make it difficult for them to engage with potential consumers.

Different Levels of Control

• Instagram has several types of settings to minimize monitoring, allowing you to strike a balance between privacy and personalization.
• Researching these possibilities ahead of time allows you to make more educated decisions.

Manage Ad Topics

• Rather than entirely turning off tracking, you can control the types of interests Instagram uses to target advertisements.
• This allows for some customizing while maintaining control over the data used.

Is Ad Tracking on Instagram Safe?

Ad tracking on Instagram is not inherently dangerous in the traditional sense of malware or viruses. The main concern is privacy. 

Advertisers and data suppliers can create a thorough profile of your interests, demographics, and online behavior by tracking your activity on Instagram and possibly other websites. 

While much of this information is anonymized, it could still be used for undesired purposes or released in a data breach. 

Furthermore, heavy tracking can appear intrusive and manipulative, perhaps resulting in a less satisfying user experience.

PurePrivacy helps to reduce ad tracking hazards. Connect your social network accounts to the app to gain privacy insights and control. A privacy score evaluates your security. 

Receive ideas for improving your settings and managing data, including auto-delete history and post-management. PurePrivacy additionally provides beta features and data broker management.

Hide and Remove What’s Private 

PurePrivacy is a comprehensive privacy solution that addresses social media privacy problems and limits ad tracking. Overall, PurePrivacy helps you take control of their social media privacy while reducing the risks connected with ad tracking.

Recommendations for Improving Privacy

• PurePrivacy is more than just a score. 
• It makes concrete recommendations to protect your privacy. 
• These ideas assist you in adjusting permissions, deleting superfluous data, and configuring settings to reduce ad tracking on Instagram.

Auto-Delete Search Data

• Instagram's browsing data might be used to target ads. 
• This feature automatically deletes your search history, keeping it from being exploited to track your interests.

Rescan Social Media Settings

• Social media settings can change over time, and PurePrivacy allows you to run regular scans to ensure you have the most up-to-date recommendations for the best privacy. 
• This keeps you on top of your Instagram settings and potential tracking threats.

Block Hidden Trackers

• This powerful function goes one step further, actively disabling known trackers on your device. 
• With your permission, PurePrivacy establishes a VPN to intercept traffic between trackers and their websites. 
• This severely limits the ability of marketers and third-party services to track your behavior on Instagram and other websites.

Wrapping Up

To summarize, while completely removing ad tracking is impossible, there are steps you can take to reduce it and receive more relevant ads. 

Following the Instagram settings guide and using a privacy-focused app like PurePrivacy will allow you to limit data gathering, adjust ad topics, and remove trackers for a more private and satisfying Instagram experience. 

Remember that there is a trade-off between privacy and personalization, so consider your alternatives before making any decisions.