Instagram is nowadays the most used social network by children, youth and adults in much of the world. With more than one billion active users per month globally, the social network owned by Facebook has become very popular, since it allows images, stories and even live broadcasts to be shared, among many other things. In this context and considering that today everything we do on the Internet leaves a mark and is part of our digital identity, and that a large part of that identity is given by what we do on social networks, we take advantage of the fact that today, 30 June, World Social Networks Day is celebrated to share a series of recommendations when setting up privacy and security on Instagram it architect roles and responsibilities.
Privacy settings on Instagram
As in most social networks and applications, the privacy and security options on Instagram will be found within our profile, pressing on the three horizontal stripes that are observed in the upper right part of our screen and then pressing on the 'Settings' wheel at the bottom right. Here we will find the menu with all the options that Instagram allows us to configure. In this post we will analyze those most relevant to security and privacy issues, but we recommend you review each one.
Settings menu on Instagram
Within the Privacy options we can configure everything related to our publications; that is, those who can see them, make comments, tag us and contact us, among other things. Here are some of these settings that you shouldn't miss checking out.
Setting up comments on Instagram
Within 'Comments' it is possible to restrict those comments that are abusive or violent. This option is very important to activate, especially in accounts of minors, to avoid cyberbullying and digital harassment .
Configuration options for comments on Instagram
As seen in Image 2, it is possible to block the comments of one or more accounts in particular, which will make them not visible to other users who visit our profile.
On the other hand, we recommend the use of content filters as well. In this sense, Instagram allows you to automatically hide comments that contain aggressive and violent messages in your posts, or to perform a manual filter to block those that contain specific words. This manual filter will block all comments that contain the words, phrases or even emojis entered in the text box below the 'Manual filter' option.
In addition, you can also activate the automatic filter of most reported words, which is based on the list of words included in the most reported comments by all users of the social network with the aim of blocking those comments that include these terms.
In this way we can automatically restrict aggressive or abusive comments, without having to review or delete one by one.
Instagram tagging settings
In the 'Tags' menu we will find everything related to publications in which we are tagged. Here we can choose who can tag us: any person or Instagram profile, only those we follow or no one. On the other hand, we can review the publications in which we have been tagged in the option 'Tagged posts' and even delete the tag or hide the post so that it is not visible in our profile.
There is also the option of manually approving the labels, which although it can be tedious is a good complement for those who allow any account to be able to label them.
Label menu on Instagram
Just as the tags in our profile can be restricted, the mentions can also be restricted. That is, the references using the '@' in stories, publications or comments from other accounts that create a direct link to our profile.
Privacy settings for stories on Instagram
Within the privacy settings for stories there is an option that allows you to hide the stories from certain contacts, as well as the possibility of creating a 'Best Friends' list to share only certain content with this group. Although these options are very useful, especially in public accounts or with a large number of followers, many children and adolescents use this setting to hide the content of their stories from their parents or family and thus share content without supervision. With this in mind, we remind adults of the importance of talking to young children about the use of social networks and jointly review their privacy and security settings.
Instagram story privacy settings
In addition, in this section we will be able to choose who can answer our stories, as well as who can share or forward them. Although we can restrict our stories from being shared, remember that anyone could take a screenshot and share it, so we recommend you evaluate carefully what content to share.
Related reading: How overexposure on social networks can bring problems
How to configure who can send you direct messages on Instagram
Many children and adolescents receive messages from strangers through social networks, even when their accounts are privately configured. This represents a risk, since sometimes it could lead to cases of grooming or digital harassment. On Instagram, by default anyone can send you a direct message, even if your account is private. In the option 'Message controls' you can change these settings so that only your followers can send you messages by chat, as well as add you to groups. We recommend checking these settings, especially in the accounts of minors.
Configuration options for messages through Instagram
Finally, at the end of the privacy settings we will have the option to restrict an account, block it or silence it. These options are generally used to restrict certain users from having access to our information or from being able to contact us. Each of those options is used in different cases:
Silenced accounts: When you silence someone, you do not stop following that person, nor do you stop being able to see their publications when you enter their profile, but you will stop seeing them on your main page and in the stories. As for the muted profile, this setting is completely transparent and the person behind the account will not know that it was muted.
Restrict an account: It serves to protect the interactions with a certain account, without the need to stop following that person or that the same account. In this option, only you and the restricted person will see the comments that they make in your publications, and they will be hidden from the rest of the users of the social network. This option is generally used in cases of cyberbullying or due to inappropriate comments, but where you still want to maintain the relationship.
Blocked accounts: In this case the blocked person will not be able to see any of your information, nor will you be able to see the blocked person. When you block someone, you remove them from your followers and you are also removed from theirs. Also, that person will not be able to follow you again until they are unlocked.
Security settings on Instagram
In the following menu we find the 'Security' options. Here we can safely configure access to our account and review any strange activity that has occurred. In addition to being able to change the password, something we recommend doing at least twice a year, other settings that you should review are:
Privacy settings on Instagram
As in most social networks and applications, the privacy and security options on Instagram will be found within our profile, pressing on the three horizontal stripes that are observed in the upper right part of our screen and then pressing on the 'Settings' wheel at the bottom right. Here we will find the menu with all the options that Instagram allows us to configure. In this post we will analyze those most relevant to security and privacy issues, but we recommend you review each one.
Settings menu on Instagram
Within the Privacy options we can configure everything related to our publications; that is, those who can see them, make comments, tag us and contact us, among other things. Here are some of these settings that you shouldn't miss checking out.
Setting up comments on Instagram
Within 'Comments' it is possible to restrict those comments that are abusive or violent. This option is very important to activate, especially in accounts of minors, to avoid cyberbullying and digital harassment .
Configuration options for comments on Instagram
As seen in Image 2, it is possible to block the comments of one or more accounts in particular, which will make them not visible to other users who visit our profile.
On the other hand, we recommend the use of content filters as well. In this sense, Instagram allows you to automatically hide comments that contain aggressive and violent messages in your posts, or to perform a manual filter to block those that contain specific words. This manual filter will block all comments that contain the words, phrases or even emojis entered in the text box below the 'Manual filter' option.
In addition, you can also activate the automatic filter of most reported words, which is based on the list of words included in the most reported comments by all users of the social network with the aim of blocking those comments that include these terms.
In this way we can automatically restrict aggressive or abusive comments, without having to review or delete one by one.
Instagram tagging settings
In the 'Tags' menu we will find everything related to publications in which we are tagged. Here we can choose who can tag us: any person or Instagram profile, only those we follow or no one. On the other hand, we can review the publications in which we have been tagged in the option 'Tagged posts' and even delete the tag or hide the post so that it is not visible in our profile.
There is also the option of manually approving the labels, which although it can be tedious is a good complement for those who allow any account to be able to label them.
Label menu on Instagram
Just as the tags in our profile can be restricted, the mentions can also be restricted. That is, the references using the '@' in stories, publications or comments from other accounts that create a direct link to our profile.
Privacy settings for stories on Instagram
Within the privacy settings for stories there is an option that allows you to hide the stories from certain contacts, as well as the possibility of creating a 'Best Friends' list to share only certain content with this group. Although these options are very useful, especially in public accounts or with a large number of followers, many children and adolescents use this setting to hide the content of their stories from their parents or family and thus share content without supervision. With this in mind, we remind adults of the importance of talking to young children about the use of social networks and jointly review their privacy and security settings.
Instagram story privacy settings
In addition, in this section we will be able to choose who can answer our stories, as well as who can share or forward them. Although we can restrict our stories from being shared, remember that anyone could take a screenshot and share it, so we recommend you evaluate carefully what content to share.
Related reading: How overexposure on social networks can bring problems
How to configure who can send you direct messages on Instagram
Many children and adolescents receive messages from strangers through social networks, even when their accounts are privately configured. This represents a risk, since sometimes it could lead to cases of grooming or digital harassment. On Instagram, by default anyone can send you a direct message, even if your account is private. In the option 'Message controls' you can change these settings so that only your followers can send you messages by chat, as well as add you to groups. We recommend checking these settings, especially in the accounts of minors.
Configuration options for messages through Instagram
Finally, at the end of the privacy settings we will have the option to restrict an account, block it or silence it. These options are generally used to restrict certain users from having access to our information or from being able to contact us. Each of those options is used in different cases:
Silenced accounts: When you silence someone, you do not stop following that person, nor do you stop being able to see their publications when you enter their profile, but you will stop seeing them on your main page and in the stories. As for the muted profile, this setting is completely transparent and the person behind the account will not know that it was muted.
Restrict an account: It serves to protect the interactions with a certain account, without the need to stop following that person or that the same account. In this option, only you and the restricted person will see the comments that they make in your publications, and they will be hidden from the rest of the users of the social network. This option is generally used in cases of cyberbullying or due to inappropriate comments, but where you still want to maintain the relationship.
Blocked accounts: In this case the blocked person will not be able to see any of your information, nor will you be able to see the blocked person. When you block someone, you remove them from your followers and you are also removed from theirs. Also, that person will not be able to follow you again until they are unlocked.
Security settings on Instagram
In the following menu we find the 'Security' options. Here we can safely configure access to our account and review any strange activity that has occurred. In addition to being able to change the password, something we recommend doing at least twice a year, other settings that you should review are:
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