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Why Should You Be Worried About Instagram’s Latest Updates?
Instagram recently added features that put your privacy at risk. These changes make it easier for people to watch what you do online. Let’s talk about what these features are and how to stop them from watching you.
What Are These New Features?
Instagram now has three features that might worry you:
- Friends Tab in Reels – Shows everyone what videos you liked or commented on
- Map Feature – Shares where you are when you post
- Repost Button – Makes it easy to accidentally share someone else’s content
These features can share more information about you than you might want.
How to Hide Your Activity from the Friends Tab
The Friends tab shows your followers what Reels you liked or commented on. Here’s how to turn this off:
- Open Instagram and tap your profile picture
- Go to Settings by tapping the three lines at the top right
- Find “Settings and Activity” and tap it
- Look for “Activity in Friends Tab” and select it
- Choose “No One” to hide your activity completely
This stops people from seeing what videos you interact with. Your likes and comments will stay private.
How to Turn Off Location Sharing
Instagram’s Map feature can show people where you are. Even though Instagram says it’s turned off by default, some users found it was already on. Here’s how to make sure it’s off:
To Hide Your Location Completely:
- Tap Messages at the top of your Instagram feed
- Find the Map icon at the top of your messages
- Tap Settings in the corner
- Turn off location sharing for everyone
To Hide Specific Places:
- Go to the Map in your messages
- Tap Settings then “Options“
- Choose “Hide Places” to add locations you want to keep secret
- Add any place you don’t want others to see
To Hide from Certain People:
- Open the Map in messages
- Go to Settings and then “Options“
- Select “Hide From“
- Pick the people you don’t want to see your location
- Tap Done to save your choices
What About the Repost Button?
The new Repost button sits right next to the comment button. This makes it easy to accidentally share someone’s post. While you can’t remove this button completely, you can:
Stop Others from Reposting Your Content:
- Go to your profile and tap the three lines
- Select “Settings and Privacy“
- Find “Sharing and Reuse” under how others interact with you
- Turn off “Reposts on Posts and Reels“
Delete Accidental Reposts:
- Go to your profile and look for the “Reposts” section below your bio
- Find the post you want to remove
- Tap the repost button again to delete it
Why These Changes Matter
These features give Instagram and other users more information about you than before. The Friends tab shows what content interests you. The Map feature can reveal where you spend time. The Repost button can share content you didn’t mean to share.
Many people worry about their safety and privacy with these changes. Some users report that location sharing was turned on without them knowing it.
Simple Steps to Stay Safe
- Check your settings regularly to make sure privacy features stay on
- Be careful when tapping buttons – the Repost button is easy to hit by mistake
- Tell your friends about these features so they can protect themselves too
- Update your app to make sure you have the latest privacy controls
What Instagram Says
Instagram claims these features help people connect with friends. They say location sharing is off unless you turn it on. But many users found their location was being shared anyway.
The company says they’re checking to make sure no one shares location without choosing to. They also say the Friends tab helps you find content through what your friends like.
These new Instagram features can share more about you than you might want. Take a few minutes to check your settings and turn off the features you don’t want. Your privacy is worth protecting, and these simple steps can help keep your information safe.
Remember to check your settings again after Instagram updates. Sometimes new features get turned on automatically, even when the company says they won’t.