Staying Safe on Instagram: A Senior’s Guide to Social Media Success

Remember when looking at photos meant wrestling with a photo album?

You’d peel apart those sticky pages, squint past the glare on the plastic, and finally—finally—catch a fuzzy glimpse of Aunt Marge from 1974.

Ah, the good old days!

Now, almost all our photos are digital. No more sticky pages or glare battles! These days, our photos end up online—especially on social mediaSocial media refers to online platforms and websites that enable users to create, share, and interac... More.

And when it comes to showing off those pictures, Instagram is the Grand Poo-bah. The Big Cheese. The Top Dog.

With over 2 billion (yep, that’s billion with a “b”) users, it’s where people go to share and see life in all its filtered glory.

Instagram is fantastic for keeping up with family, checking in on friends, and even sneaking a peek at strangers’ pets or their ‘artisanal’ salads.

But as fun as Instagram is, it has its share of safety concerns. This guide will walk you through what those are. And, more importantly, give you tips on how to use the site as safely as possible.

That way, you’ll be able to scrollScrolling is a fundamental action used to navigate through content on digital devices, such as compu... More through photos of rainbow bagels, dogs dressed as ballerinas and the world’s largest homegrown zucchini without a worry about hackers or scammers spoiling the fun.

Let’s dive in!

What is Instagram, Anyway?

If you’re asking yourself, “Insta-what?,” here’s a quick primer on Instagram (you can read our full overview on it here).

Instagram is a social media appAn app (short for application) is a program that helps you do specific tasks on your smartphone, tab... More where people share pictures and videos. Think of it as a giant digital photo album that the whole world can contribute to.

Users can share photos and videos, add creative filters (think Instagram’s version of rose-colored glasses), and interact with others through likes, comments, and direct messages.

Instagram was bought by Facebook (now Meta) in 2012 for a cool $1 billion – which is roughly equivalent to the cost of all those school pictures you bought of your kids over the years.

Today, it’s grown into a global phenomenon where people share more than 40 billion pictures. Only 20% of users are in the United States.

The app’s features include:

• Feed: Where you scroll through pictures and videos from people you follow.
• Stories: Short posts that disappear after 24 hours.
• Reels: Short, fun videos with music and special effects.
• Direct Messages (DMs): Private messages you can send to others.

But here’s the thing: while Instagram is great for keeping up with family and friends, it’s also a place where strangers might peek into your life if you’re not careful.

So, how do you keep it safe? Let’s dive into that next.

Is Instagram Safe?

Well, Instagram is as safe as a crosswalk—if you use it properly and follow the rules, you’ll probably be fine.

But step into traffic without looking both ways, and you’re in trouble. Instagram does have some built-in safety features, but it’s still part of the wild world of the internetThe Internet is a vast network of computers and other electronic devices connected globally, allowin... More, so a little caution goes a long way.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly When It Comes to Safety and Privacy

Let’s dive into what Instagram actually gets right about safety and privacy. Then, we’ll peek at the parts that, let’s just say, could use a little work.

The Good

• End-to-end encryptionEncryption is a way to protect sensitive data by turning it into unreadable code using complex math.... More: Private messages in the app are encrypted, meaning only you and the recipient can see them.
• Two-factor authentication: Adds an extra layer of security by sending you a code when someone logs into your account from a new device.
• Blocking and reporting: If someone’s being a jerk, you can block or report them, and Instagram will (hopefully) deal with them.
• Private accounts: You can set your account to private, meaning only people you approve can see your posts.

The Bad

• Data collection that would make a Census worker blush: Instagram gathers a lot of information about you, from what you like to where you’ve been. Even with a private account, Instagram is still mining your data for ads and “personalized” experiences. More on this in a second.
• Scammers and hackers: Just like anywhere on the internet, bad actors are out there, waiting for someone to slip up so they can swoop in with phishingPhishing involves cyber thieves creating fake communications, often appearing as emails from trusted... More scams or hack your account.
• Fake accounts: There are plenty of phony accounts out there that might try to fool you into clicking on shady links.

The Ugly

Remember how your mother always told you, “Nothing in life is free“? Well, Instagram makes its money by collecting user data – and boy, do they collect a lot.

• All-Seeing, All-Knowing Tracking: Instagram doesn’t hold back when it comes to data collection. They make their money by keeping tabs on everything you do, like, and share.
• Activity Logging: They track everything you post, like, or comment on.
• Message Monitoring: All your messages are logged, even if they’re just between you and a friend.
• Location Tracking: Your location is tracked unless you explicitly tell them not to.
• Browsing Behavior: They know what you browse, where you linger, and what you skip.
• Ad Interactions: Every ad you interact with is noted to make sure you get even more “personalized” ads.

Tips for Staying Safe on Instagram (Without Feeling Like You Need a Tech Degree)

Here are some easy-to-follow tips to keep your Instagram experience fun and secure.

(Note: Tech companies love rearranging things. If the instructions below aren’t exact, the tech fairies have probably moved things around. If you can’t find something, ask a trusted friend or family member for help, or do a quick web search for instructions. And, if you do find something that’s changed, please let us know so we can update it here for all our readers!)

1. Keep Your Account Private

One of the best ways to control who sees your posts is by setting your account to private. This way, only people you approve can follow you and see what you post.

• How to do it: Go to your profile, tap the three lines in the top right, go to Settings, select Privacy, and switch to a Private Account.

2. Turn Off Location Sharing

Sharing your location on Instagram is like putting up a neon sign that says, “Hey, I’m not home right now!” Not exactly what you want.

• How to do it: Before you post, make sure the location tag is turned off. You can also avoid sharing your precise location by adjusting settings on your phone.

3. Use Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication

Your passwordA password is a string of characters used to verify the identity of a user during the authentication... More should be stronger than “password123” or your dog’s name. Use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols, and make sure it’s unique. Then, turn on two-factor authentication for an extra layer of protection.

• How to do it: Go to Settings > Security > Two-factor Authentication and follow the prompts.

4. Watch Out for Scams

If someone DMs you promising thousands of followers or asking for money, hit that block button faster than you can say “scam.” Instagram is full of people looking to take advantage of the unsuspecting.

• Common scams: Romance scams, phishing attempts, and too-good-to-be-true offers for likes or followers.

5. Block and Report Trolls

Sometimes, you’ll run into folks who leave rude comments or spamSpam refers to unwanted messages, usually emails, that are sent in bulk to many people. These messag... More your DMs. Block them! And if they’re really out of line, report them to Instagram. It’s your space—don’t let them spoil it.

• How to do it: Go to the user’s profile, tap the three dots, and hit Block or Report.

6. Hide Offensive Comments

Instagram has a nifty feature that hides offensive comments from your posts automatically. You can even set it to block specific words or phrases you find offensive.

• How to do it: Go to Settings > Privacy > Hidden Words.

7. Be Careful What You Post

Before you hit that share button, think twice. Does the world really need to know your home address or see the inside of your living room?

Avoid posting sensitive information like your phone number, address, or other private details.

8. Don’t Click on Suspicious Links

If someone sends you a message with a linkA link, or hyperlink, is a tool used in electronic documents and websites to jump from one online lo... More that seems off, don’t click it. Scammers often send out phishing links that could steal your information or infect your device with malwareMalware, short for malicious software, encompasses a variety of harmful programs designed to infiltr... More.

9. Limit Ad Targeting

Instagram will try to tailor ads to you based on your activity. If that feels a little too invasive, you can limit it.

• How to do it: Go to Settings > Ads and toggle off data sharing.

Keeping Your Instagram Experience Sunny

Instagram can be a fun way to keep up with family, friends, and grandkids.

But remember, the internet always comes with a few strings attached. So, snap away, post your pictures, and enjoy connecting with loved ones—but always keep safety in mind.

After all, staying safe on Instagram is the key to making sure your online experience remains as sunny as the vacation photos you’re sharing!