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Accidentally liked a picture on Instagram? Check out my post about privacy and notifications for liking and unliking on Instagram.
Some nuances to privacy settings are unclear on Instagram Help, so let’s shed some light. Skip to ii. Privacy below if you know enough about basic account management and third party tools.
Atlanta’s favorite startup mascots Coleman and Paloma at Strongbox West
i. Instagram FAQ
1. Can I have multiple usernames?
Yes. Each must be associated with a different email address.
2. How do I toggle or switch between multiple Instagram accounts?
First, login to one account. Go to your profile and tap the gear icon (iPhone) or verticle three dot icon (Android) in the top right. Scroll down and tap Add Account. Enter your other username and password.
To switch between accounts you’ve added:
Go to your profile. Tap your username at the top. Tap the account you’d like to switch to.
3. Can I see Instagram pictures on a desktop/laptop or in my browser outside the app?
Yes, at instagram.com/USERNAME. Alternatively, users can directly share pictures to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr, and via direct message, text message, or email. If a user simply tweets a link to the IG picture, you can see the picture by clicking the link (it used to appear in twitter.com’s native display). However, you won’t be able to login and Like or comment when viewing IG pics shared to these other networks; the likes and comments would be native to those platforms. To like or comment within Instagram on your browser (not using the app), login to instagram.com.
4. Can I like and comment on Instagram pictures outside the app? How can I manage my Instagram account in a browser?
Yes. For both, the simplest way is to login at instagram.com.
Third Party Instagram Apps:
There are several third party Instagram services worth trying. Here are 7 great Instagram apps including Layout, Hyperlapse, and Latergramme (list created July 2015).
A. Check out Flow for looking and liking (not posting). It’s a sleek iPad and iPhone app with a layout and interface superior to Instagram’s. Bonus: it’s ad-free. Preview thumbnails allow you to swipe through an array of photos and videos. Standard IG features like clicking through to profiles, liking posts, and seeing posts that you’ve liked are there, plus you can bookmark what you’ve liked.
Unfortunately, due to Instagram’s API changes, Flow will most likely stop working on June 1, 2016. As I’ve been saying for years, Facebook will kill Instagram.
B. Ink361 (formerly Inkstagram) A webviewer for Instagram photos. Login with your Instagram credentials. You can do everything you can on the iPhone app except add new pictures.
5. How can I print my Instagram photos?
Try socialprintstudio.com (formerly Printstagram) or try the iPhone app PostalPix to print four-inch squares from your Instagram library for 30 cents each.
ii. Privacy Tips
Years ago Instagram photos appeared natively within Twitter. No longer, unless you use IFTTT.
You can block any user. This means that even if they are following you, they will not see your photos in their feed, nor will your actions (commenting, liking) show up in their following feed. However, a blocked user can still see your photos in other ways:
1) If you’re public and you share an IG post to another social network where they can see your posts. For example, I was private on IG but I shared to Twitter when I uploaded this photo. Anyone could see this photo on Twitter, but only IG users who I have approved to follow me can A) view it natively in their IG feed, B) view it within the IG app, and C) like or comment.
2) If you’re public and they create another account.
3) If you’re private and you accept a new follower you don’t know, it could be the person you blocked.
4) And unfortunately, you have to remember that anything you post can always be captured on a screenshot and shared privately between other users.
Private mode
You can toggle “Private Account” on or off in your Profile settings. (Tap the person icon on the bottom right of the app, then tap the gear icon in top right for Options.) Anyone who followed you while you were not in private mode will not be affected, but new followers will be in approval purgatory. More on viewing private photos online here.
Photo credit: Jay Wennington
Stalkers
If you are already private and still have a particular user you don’t want to have access, be wary of new followers. If an unfamiliar user has few pictures (less than 5-10), few legitimate followers, or bot or spam accounts interacting with their photos, this may be a fake account. Oh, and the obvious red flag is having no profile picture.
Tip: If you’re concerned about a stalker, save all of their email addresses in your phone contacts. When a new user joins IG with an email address you stored, IG announces, “Your friend (NAME) just joined Instagram.” Not knowing this, the stalker will assume that their fake profile is unbeknownst to you. Block.
Deleting comments on Instagram
You can delete others’ comments on your photos and any of your own comments. When viewing your photo, tap the talk bubble icon below the photo. If you slide your finger to the left over any comment, you’ll have the option to delete it. If you accidentally delete, you can tap to undo.
This blog is not affiliated with Instagram in any way. My knowledge is based on my own experience and experimentation.
Update 4/27/16: Due to time constraints, I’m no longer able to post individual answers to your questions, but if you comment below someone else from the community may answer your question.
Update 3/28/16: I’ve updated this post for Instagram version 7.19 for iOS
Update 8/27/12: Instagram 3.0 was released on 8/16/12. This app update introduced Photo Maps and greater privacy over the following and follower lists for private users (now these lists are not visible to non-followers). This post was originally published on 12/6/11 and the comments predating 8/16/12 reflect Instagram 2.0. I won’t go back and edit all the comments but I will answer in real time going forward.
This was the original featured image for this post when I first published it in 2011. #tbt …
Tip: CTRL + F keywords in the comments to see if your question has already been answered. Up-vote the comments that you care about the most.
can I tell who viewed my instagram? are there apps?
No easy way.
No.
I have a question, so I was going thru my discover friends list and it tells me who I’m friends with on Facebook but that I’m not following, it also tells me pages I like on Facebook that I’m also not following on IG, but I noticed that it says on two people following you, but they are not actually on my list of followers ? What does that mean ?
is the “similar to accounts you interact with” based on profiles you look at/visit or is it just like, comment and follows?
I am not certain but I imagine it’s based on an algorithm that gives the most weight to profiles you like/comment/follow, but also is based on anything you’ve searched or viewed on Instagram, and potentially on Facebook as well.
Instagram has not made public the algorithm used to choose the suggested accounts. But they are most likely related to other accounts you like, follow, or comment on. If you’ve connected to Facebook, there may be some Facebook activity that impacts it as well because IG and FB share an ad platform.
If my Instagram profile is private & we do NOT follow each other can someone still see if I viewed their video?
No, they can’t see that you viewed it.
If my Instagram profile is private & we do NOT follow each other can someone still see if I viewed their video?
There will be an anonymous view counted (they won’t know you viewed it).
No.
my ex blocked me on IG and his name doesn’t pop up in my search…but at 1am I put in the first letter of his name and he popped up? what the fuck ? If Im blocked and he wasn’t showing up in search before , why is he showing up in search now?
can someone see if you follow there links in bio in IG
No. They could count the number of clicks on those URLs if they had a tracking URL such as bit.ly, but even then it would be anonymous clicks.
Hi Ricky, it looks like you’re following everyone pictured, but on the left, this shows who is following YOU. Google tells me that Mengikuti means “Follow” – so I understand your question. I would try to unfollow then refollow the two accounts on the bottom. The app has been updated since your comment… if you still have the question, feel free to post another screenshot.
I don’t really have follwers I don’t really use instagram….but when I do I see lots of half naked girls …..why?? I don’t search for anyone and I don’t follow half naked girls ….lol
I wanna ask something, is “similar to account you interact with” based on profiles that our followers visit ? Or it is based on profiles we look at/visit ?
Instagram has not made public the algorithm used to choose the suggested accounts. But they are most likely related to other accounts that you like, follow, or comment on (“activity”). If you’ve connected Instagram to Facebook, there may be some Facebook activity that impacts the recommended Instagram accounts as well because IG and FB share an ad platform.
About third-party apps. Did you hear something about zen-promo? I was strongly recommended to use it if I need more followers. I checked it and it looks trustworthy. I don’t know is it “legal” and I don’t need followers right now but just in case
My friend follows over 400 people, and last week when I clicked on who she follows the most recent person she followed would pop up first. Now that past few days, when I click on who she follows, it’s me at the top and then random people below- NOTL the most recent person she followed. Why?
Thanks!
My friend follows over 400 people, and last week when I clicked on who she follows the most recent person she followed would pop up first. Now that past few days, when I click on who she follows, it’s me at the top and then random people below- not the most recent person she followed. How can I go back to seeing who she just recently followed?
Thanks!
How can I set who can see the photos I have liked and people I am following? Is there any option /app that allow you to not allowing someone to see your activities in the following tab? Please do reply..
Instagram, like Facebook is loaded with spyware that is none of their business.
I’ve been having a rough time with my now ex girlfriend. We both have private accounts and neither is following the other. In a moment of weakness this weekend, I sent her a direct message. I immediately regretted it and thought it would be best to just block her. My question is this – since I blocked her AFTER sending the message, will the message still appear in her inbox?? Thank you for your help