Facebook purchased Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion. Since then, the two platforms have become increasingly integrated. Today, signing up for an Instagram account with your Facebook login has become standard practice. This integration allows for certain features and conveniences, but it also raises questions around data sharing and privacy. Here’s an overview of what happens when you connect your Instagram account to your Facebook profile.
Linking is now the default option
When you download the Instagram app and go to create an account, linking with Facebook is the default sign-up method. Tapping “Log in with Facebook” will automatically connect your Instagram account to your existing Facebook profile if you are already logged in to the Facebook app on your device. Your name, email address or phone number, profile photo, and list of Facebook friends will be shared from your Facebook account to populate your new Instagram account.
It’s easier than creating a separate username and password
Using your Facebook login credentials saves you the hassle of coming up with and remembering a separate unique username and password for Instagram. Everything is securely logged in and synced through your single Facebook login.
Find friends quickly
When you sign up with Facebook, Instagram automatically follows all of your Facebook friends who have Instagram accounts already. This allows you to quickly connect and interact with your friends on Instagram without having to search for each one manually. Your Facebook friends are also notified that you’ve joined Instagram.
Cross-posting abilities
Linking Facebook and Instagram allows you to conveniently cross-post content between the platforms. When you share a post on Instagram, you have the option to instantly share that post to your Facebook profile or Facebook page as well. You can also easily import your Facebook profile photos over to your new Instagram account.
Access to additional data for targeted ads
Facebook owns Instagram, and so connecting the two accounts gives Facebook access to additional data about your interactions and preferences across both platforms. This expanded data allows Instagram to show you more targeted, relevant ads based on your overall Facebook and Instagram activities.
Changes to Instagram’s terms of use
In linking your Instagram and Facebook accounts, you agree to Instagram’s updated terms of use which allow greater sharing of your data:
Data sharing with Facebook
Once you’ve connected your Instagram and Facebook accounts, Facebook and Instagram share information about you between their platforms. This includes:
– Contact information you’ve provided like your email address or phone number
– Content you’ve posted, such as photos, comments, or likes
– Information about how you’ve used Instagram, such as users you’ve interacted with and when you use the app
– Information about your device, such as the operating system you use or device identifiers
Expanded advertising targeting
Linking your accounts means that Facebook and Instagram can use each other’s ad targeting data to better target ads to you. For example, Facebook can use your Instagram interests and behaviors to determine which ads to show you on Facebook. And Instagram can use the demographic data Facebook has on you for ad targeting.
New ways your data may be used
The updated terms give Instagram permission to use your data in the following new ways:
– Matching it with activities on other Facebook Company products like WhatsApp or Facebook Pay
– Developing new Facebook Company products and services
– Promoting safety, integrity and security across Facebook Company products
You can still unlink your accounts
Even after you’ve connected your Instagram and Facebook accounts, you can still unlink them at any time in your Instagram settings. This will stop the syncing and data sharing between the platforms. However, unlinking the accounts will not delete or undo any of the past sharing that has already occurred.
To unlink your Instagram account from Facebook:
1. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile page
2. Tap the three-line menu icon in the top right
3. Go to Settings > Account > Linked Accounts
4. Tap on Facebook under Connected Accounts
5. Tap Unlink Account and confirm
Once unlinked, you will no longer be able to use Facebook to log in to Instagram. You’ll have to use your designated Instagram username and password instead.
Weighing the pros and cons of linking accounts
Here are some key pros and cons to consider when deciding whether or not to connect your Instagram account with Facebook:
Pros
- Easier login with existing credentials
- Automatic following and notification of Facebook friends
- Seamless cross-posting between platforms
- Access to expanded data for better targeted ads
Cons
- Facebook gains access to your Instagram data and activity
- Instagram can use your Facebook data for ad targeting
- You agree to additional data sharing and usage across Facebook Company products
- It can be a hassle if you later decide to unlink the accounts
Privacy considerations
Linking your Instagram and Facebook accounts does entail some privacy trade-offs. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
– Your Instagram activity can now influence the ads you see on Facebook based on associated interests and behaviors.
– Facebook will gain access to your Instagram followers, likes, comments, and the accounts you interact with. This data helps serve you more “relevant” ads.
– Stricter default privacy settings on Instagram vs Facebook may be impacted. For example, your Instagram posts default to not being shared beyond Instagram. But connecting to Facebook opens up the possibility for easier content sharing to Facebook as well.
– Instagram’s updated Terms of Service allow new ways of matching and using your combined data across Facebook Company products that you can’t opt out of or limit once linked.
– Once accounts are linked, it can be difficult to fully disconnect them and delete all historical data sharing, even if you unlink the accounts.
How to keep your Instagram account anonymous
If you’re looking to maximize privacy and keep your Instagram usage more anonymous, here are a few tips:
– Don’t connect your Instagram account with any other existing social media profiles. Create a new, unique account just for Instagram.
– Only use an email address or phone number not associated with your real identity. Consider using a temporary second phone number or anonymous email address.
– Leave your name field blank or use a pseudonym rather than your real name.
– Skip linking your contacts. This avoids automatically following friends who may identify you.
– Be selective in who you follow from your real-life social network. Consider using Instagram just to follow celebrities, artists, interest groups rather than people you know.
– Avoid location tagging posts which reveal your typical whereabouts. You can geotag posts with more generic locations.
– Use vague or anonymous user names/handles without real name or birth year.
– Periodically review and tighten privacy settings, such as toggling off data sharing with third-party apps.
– Consider disabling personalized ads which use your usage and activity data to target ads.
– Periodically review your followers list and remove any that appear to be fake or bot accounts.
Conclusion
Linking your new Instagram account to an existing Facebook profile makes the signup process quicker and easier. But this convenience also comes with increased data sharing between the platforms and expanded ways your information can be used for advertising purposes. If privacy is a major concern, you may want to take extra steps to increase anonymity and prevent Facebook’s access to your Instagram activity and profile data. Ultimately there are tradeoffs to consider when deciding whether or not to connect these two accounts upon signing up for Instagram.