Want to get rid of your Instagram account? We’ll walk you through it.
What Info Does Instagram Have?
Instagram’s privacy rules explain this. They gather a lot about you—too much to list here—so check their June 2024 Privacy Policy for details. In simple terms, they collect:
- Stuff you do and share.
- Who you follow or connect with.
- Details about your phone, apps, or browser.
- Info from other companies they work with.
That last one matters. Instagram can track what you do even when you’re not on their app. How?
Other businesses use tools like “Business Tools” or Meta’s tech to send Instagram data about you.
What Are “Business Tools”?
These are tricks that websites, app makers, and advertisers use. They share info with Instagram’s owner, Meta, to figure out how their stuff works and to target you better. Examples include:
- Your phone or computer details.
- Sites you visit or cookies they track.
- Apps or games you use.
- Things you buy outside Instagram.
- Basic facts like your age or school level.
- Ads you see or click on.
Everyone cares about privacy differently. Using a free app like Instagram means giving up some of it.
Knowing what they track helps you decide if it’s worth staying.
How Long Do They Keep Your Stuff?
It depends. Instagram says they hold onto your data as long as they need it for their app, legal rules, or safety reasons. They decide case by case.
Steps to Delete Your Account
Instagram says it takes 30 days to fully cut off your account after you ask. The whole process might take 90 days, and some stuff could stick around longer in backups for emergencies like crashes.
Here’s how to do it:
On a Computer:
- Click “More” at the bottom left, then “Settings.”
- Go to “Accounts Center,” then “Personal details.”
- Pick “Account ownership and control,” then “Deactivation or deletion.”
- Choose the account to erase.
- Hit “Delete account,” then “Continue.”
On Android:
- Tap on your profile pic.
- Tap the menu at the top right.
- Go to “Accounts Center,” then “Personal details.”
- Select “Account ownership and control,” then “Deactivation or deletion.”
- Pick the account to remove.
- Tap “Delete account,” then “Continue.”
On iPhone:
- Tap your profile pic.
- Tap the menu at the top right.
- Head to “Accounts Center,” then “Personal details.”
- Choose “Account ownership and control,” then “Deactivation or deletion.”
- Select the account to delete.
- Tap “Delete account,” then “Continue.”
Extra Tip: Clean Up Your Data
Think about this: Instagram shares info with other companies, so your details might end up on sites that sell personal data.
These “data brokers” pass it to advertisers or even sketchy people. If that bugs you, you can act.
Services exist to find these sites, show you what’s out there, and help you pull your info off them. Some even do the work for you.