Ok so here is the situation:
As many here (I guess), I dont like Meta, but since I want to promote my 3D-printed stuff more, I see my self in a position where there is no way around Instagram 🤢
So my question is, if maybe someone here already uses Instagram here “privately” or if someone has ideas on how to use it but still giving Meta as few info as possible?
My idea at the moment would be to use Mullvad for every traffic going to insta. For signup I will of course use an email with a custom-domain that is never used somewhere else and if I like other posts, I will only use the account, related to my business. My personal account is just for getting in touch with real people I know and to promote my business-account. The personal account will not have my real name and uses also a different email from a custom domain.
Thanks in advance for you comments and trust my, I really hate having to submit to Meta and their stupid social media crap…
Edit: Thanks for all your great feedback. I will def. look into all of these ideas 👍
I also forgot two things:
- I am using Linux only for this on PC and no Windows(dont know if this changes anything)
- I am using LibreWolf on Linux Mint and Waterfox on Graphene OS (of course with Ublock and Privacy Badger ;) )
There’s no point in trying to use Meta-crap “privately”, as these services main goal is to NOT respect privacy and make life miserable for anyone who dares. If you really need it for work-releated stuff, buy a second phone/device, register another e-mail - basically create separate digital identity for your “public” (non-private) life. Otherwise you will have to deal with various annoyances, like randomly logging you out, demanding SMS authentication or locking your account for some dumb reasons. Insta/FB are absolute garbage, and the last thing we should give them is our anger and stress due to dealing with their BS. It’s not good for your health folks :)
Hard disagree. This, like all of privacy decisions, is entirely situational.
I’m setting out to the exact thing OP is, for both plying my craft, and accessing local community post about resources and events.
Don’t get me wrong, I fucking hate Meta, but I also hate being unhoused. I’ve spent months going back and forth weighing such a decision’s impact on my situation and determined the value I can get out of it to be worthwhile.
Your comment is absolutist and absurd, and total turn off for those interested in joining various privacy communities.
Exactly, it’s easy to say “just don’t use Instagram” when you don’t really need it but if you have a business you NEED to promote sadly that’s one of the best options. It’s like if someone living in a well communicated city advised everyone to just get rid of their cars because oil is bad.
Meta & privacy are like oil & water. The only absolute here is that there is no privacy in meta products.
If someone is interested in privacy communities they’ll listen to all angles, even the absurd & absolutist, so that they can learn more about privacy, which is the whole point of joining the community. The attitude in your comment is actually the total turn off. Way to be open-minded & be willing to engage in constructive conversation.
Don’t use the mobile app and only use it in a FF container with uBO. This will limit your posting options though, as some stuff like reels are only available on the mobile app I believe.
Could use a waydroid container then vlan/DMZ/VPN it to hell, while still getting the usual android experience
Buy a second hand phone
install a custom ROM / block all the shit corpo stuff
Make an email just for that phone
Get a temp number if needed for registration.
use a prepaid Sim or twillo or something. After registering remove the Sim and only use WiFi.
Install fdroid
install aurora store via fdroid
Install a vpn (próton is free or get mullvad)
force the vpn to always be on
then install Instagram
Dont give the app any permissions and keep private data off the phone.
Put tape over the cameras.
These all sound like good strategies! I’ve found in my experience that platforms sniff out temp / fake emails and phone numbers. I’m sure it can be done , but it isn’t always as easy as a list you just go through. But even so, thank you for the info 👍🙏
This is the way.
Is this a serious question? There is NO WAY to use Meta products privately. Private Meta is literally an oxymoron.
Privately? Sure, basically impossible.
OP is saying they have to use it, and they want to most private option for their use case. Comments like this acting like privacy is all or nothing is a surefire way to stop people from being interested in online privacy.
Fair point. I agree.
always good to see people come around :)
you get so used to the toxic idea of people sticking to their guns no matter what on sites like these sometimes
You’ll know that you’re doing it right when they lock your account and won’t let you login.
These companies profit off of your data. They don’t take kindly to users who don’t let them link your account to a profile that they can sell.
Good luck creating a new account as folks are suggesting as they will require like scans of your head for ID (that’s what they asked me last time I bothered trying before I realized I was better off without it)
With firefox or a hardened fork of firefox (like mull/fennec/iceraven etc.) there is a button in settings where you can install/add to homescreen and have an app-like experience for any site including instagram. (Not sure if this is on ios though.) You can also have noscript, ublock origin, and privacy badger addons running for a bit of extra protection and as you said email alias and vpn at all times. If you’re on a hardened OS like CalyxOS or Graphene you can also sandbox or work profile the browser to add another degree of separation.
You may run into problems during signup because meta has been known to use viseo/photo upload verification for accounts made with alias emails and/or from a vpn IP, but once you’re in there shouldn’t be an issue. If there is, you might want to bite the bullet and sign up in a normal way, then use privacy measures to mitigate data collection, depending on your threat model.
Like others have stated, using a container is probably the best way to help minimize footprint. Use fake info/data when possible, maybe?
Good luck 🍀
I’m in the same boat as you in that I need Instagram for work. My approach is to create a separate work profile in GrapheneOS. I handle all of my mobile work apps in that profile using a separate VPN from all other profiles. I don’t expect to be completely free from tracking in this profile, but for my threat model I don’t mind too much. Any web queries I make in this profile I keep strictly work related.
People arguing you just shouldn’t use Instagram need to remember Instagram is a tool just like Windows, Adobe, etc. Sometimes you need a specific tool to do your job and I believe as long as you containerize that aspect of your life then you’ll be fine.
Just don’t use your work Instagram for personal stuff, not even browsing memes.
Use an Instagram-specific site container to isolate your activity from your normal browsing. Imo this is really the only thing that matters that doesn’t have to do with your self control. You want to make sure Meta gets nothing from cross-site tracking and containerizing IG should do that. Also, don’t visit links to and from IG. Look it up manually through IG search.
firejail firefox
You don’t create an account. And do not save coookiies for it. Only use a web browser. This would severy limit your usage as Instagram would constantly nag you to login and deteriorate your experience. But worth it. This is how I use it.
You don’t have to go to Instagram frequently but only when someone shares a link with you.
Did you even read the post? OP asks for a way to use Instagram as privately as possible while using an account.
I only read the titre to ne honnest. But anyways to use it privately for real is to use it without account.
They have a point.
