Privacy and safety
Instagram privacy settings: a practical review
A simple checklist for reviewing who can see your posts, contact you, and find your account.
Review who can see your content
In Instagram settings, look for account privacy and choose whether a private account better fits your needs. Review story, live, and close-friends audiences separately; a private profile does not make every interaction or detail invisible. Menu names can change as the app is updated.
Limit unwanted contact
Check message requests, mentions, tags, comments, and hidden-word controls. Restrict, mute, block, or report accounts that make you uncomfortable. Review tagged posts before they appear on your profile if that option is available.
Secure the account itself
Use a unique password, enable two-factor authentication, and check login activity and connected apps. Be cautious with links promising private content or asking you to sign in outside Instagram; never share a login code. Revisit these controls periodically.