With so many social media outlets, people are sharing personal information on the internet now more than ever. That means there’s more risk of your data being shared. For instance, Instagram collects 79% of user data and shares it with third-parties. While having a public Instagram account can be great for expanding your reach, you can also make your profile private to protect your data and privacy.
Instagram makes it easy to switch back and forth between a private and public Instagram account. So, if you change your mind, you can revert back to a public account. In this article, we’re going to go over how to make your Instagram account private.
Why Would I Want to Make My Instagram Private?
First, it’s important to understand why you would want to make your Instagram account private. Here are some of the top reasons making your Instagram private may be the right move.
Control Who Sees Your Content
When you make your Instagram private, you have control over who can see your profile. Users will have to request to follow your account, and you must approve them. You can also remove followers later on so they can’t access your account anymore.
Make Your Content Exclusive
Having a private account adds a sense of exclusivity. For example, business accounts are usually public. If you make yours private, it’s going to make users wonder why and want to be a part of your following list.
Protects Your Content
With screenshots, screen recordings and downloading tools available to users, it can be easy for someone to steal your content. When your account is private, you know who is viewing your posts. So, if you find that it’s been stolen you’ll have an easier time narrowing down who it was.
Avoid Harassment
If you’ve been dealing with someone harassing you online, making your account private can keep them from interacting with you.
Overall, a private Instagram gives you control over who sees your content and your follower list. If you’re sharing a lot of personal information, a private Instagram account is likely best.
How to Make Your Instagram Private
If you’re ready to make your Instagram private, you can do so directly through the Instagram app following these steps.
- Navigate to the Instagram App
- Go to your Profile Page by clicking on your profile icon at the bottom right
- Find the three horizontal lines at the top right to get to the menu
- Click on Privacy Settings
- Select Account Privacy
- Slide the toggle to Private Account
- Confirm that you want to set it to a private account
- Your settings should be saved
Within the privacy menu, you can also choose other settings such as who can send you messages, if people can reply to story posts and more.
Conclusion
Safety and data protection should be a top concern for Instagram users. Making your account private gives you more control over your content and an added layer of security.
