The most important settings on Instagram and how to deal with bullying or harassment on Insta…
What is Instagram?
Instagram is part of Facebook and is an app that allows you to share photos and short videos quickly and easily. Simply take a photo and upload it. If you use the share function, you can also share your Instagram pictures with friends on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc. With the help of the app, you can also edit your pictures with various filters and change them as you like. Short videos can also be shot and uploaded.
Attention public!
When you download Instagram to your smartphone, all your photos and information uploaded in the app are public and therefore visible to everyone! However, you have the option of restricting “the audience”.
TIP — Instagram – Set privacy!
You have the option to set the privacy in Instagram so that only people you allow to see your photos can see them! Every person who wants to see your photos or videos can send you a follower request, which you can accept or reject. Then only followers confirmed by you can see your photos and videos, everyone else can find you via your username or email address, but at first they will only see your profile picture and your biography. Only when you confirm their follower request will they have access to your photos! Your biography will always be visible to everyone.
Here’s how it works:
iOS
Open the Instagram app.
Go to your profile.
Click on the gear icon at the top right.
Activate “Private account”, i.e. set it to ON.
A window will then appear in which you have to confirm the change.
TIP — Android
Open the Instagram app.
Go to your profile.
Click on the three dots at the top right.
Activate “Private account”, i.e. set it to ON.
A window will then open in which you may have to confirm the change again.
From when is it allowed?
Basically, Instagram states that you can use the app from the age of 13.
What rights does Instagram have to the photos?
In its terms of use, Instagram does not specifically mention photos, but only content. The photos are probably included in this. Instagram states that no part of the content is subject to any confidentiality obligation and also excludes any liability for any use or disclosure of any content provided. As such, it is likely that Instagram may use the uploaded photos pretty much without restriction.
TIP — General tips
- Only upload photos to Instagram where it would suit you if they appeared in the paper the next day.
- Use a “nickname” that has nothing to do with your real name.
- Set your profile to “private” if you also want to post personal pictures. If you want to give information to as many followers as possible, this obviously makes no sense.
- Think about which people you accept on Instagram. Play it safe with people you know in real life.
- Report and block people who harass you!
- Attention, even if your profile is set to private: as soon as you use hashtags, everyone who searches for this hashtag can see your pictures, not only your followers!
TIP — Switch off the location function!
If you have not switched off the location function on your mobile phone, the photo will be saved together with the place where you are at that time. If you then upload this photo, everyone can read out where you took it. In this way, you can quickly reveal favorite places or even your own address without knowing it!
You can switch off the location function in the settings; on many mobile phones you will find the setting in the privacy section.
You can quickly and easily find out for yourself whether you have uploaded photos to Instagram that include the location. Simply click on the pin symbol in your own profile. All photos that then appear on the map are marked with a location.
Sexual harassment on Instagram
Instagram’s terms of use prohibit posting nude or partially nude photos. Despite this, there are users who ask Instagram users to send them revealing photos. Don’t get involved! What can happen to nude pictures and how you can defend yourself can be found here:
Cyber-bullying on Instagram
On Instagram, too, comments can be written on the photos. These are not always nice. Unfortunately, you’re not safe from cyber-bullying on Instagram either. Don’t put up with it and take a stand. You have the option to block people immediately. They will then no longer be able to see your posts and profile. Important: The users you block will not be informed that you have blocked them! You can read more about how this works here.
However, people you have blocked can still “@mention” you. If they do, you will see this in the “Messages” section. However, there is a trick you can use to prevent this. If you change your “nickname”, the blocked person will no longer be able to “@mention” you.
You can also report harassment and cyber-bullying to Instagram. You can read about how this works here:
TIP — Guide “Safe on Instagram“
Our cooperation partner Saferinternet.at has created a guide on Instagram in which you can find step-by-step instructions with screenshots on which settings you can make for tagging, hiding photos, etc.
Report cyber-bullying on Instagram
For further help and support — Speak with a licensed therapist today.