With all the public outrage and legislation that now require large platforms like Google and Facebook to allow users to learn what data they collect about us, it is both a blessing and a curse to open up that can of worms. While I’ve had Facebook and instagram for a relatively equal amount of time, I decided to assess how Instagram has used my information, since it is the platform I use the most.
Due to the amount of time I spend on Instagram I was prepared for the worse. Although I know many large platforms have almost unlimited access to whatever information we as users give them, I censor myself on my social media, taking the necessary precautions to keep my important information private. Therefore when looking through my account data, none of the information really shocked me. Instagram time stamped all the times I changed my password or my biography, however there was information stored on all the former links I ever had on my profile which could possibly lead to more information. I mostly accepted instagram to have my phone number or email address saved and it did not, so I was happy to see my personal contact information was safe. My account does not even have my birthday on file.
However where things actually get interesting is under the Ads Interest tab. It is obvious that instagram is not only a social media platform but also a market place, to the point where they have business options in settings and on profiles. Therefore Instagram tracking my interests is not surprising but it does shed a light on the Ad activity on my feed. Some of the interests on my list were Electronic music, Skin care, Meditation, cosmetics, hair products, tattoos, and baseball. While the instagram algorithm did correctly identify some of my interest, some were also way off base, for example baseball and tattoos.
There is a clearly a broader economic incentive to knowing some of my interests because the Ads I receive on my feed are directly tailored to me. It is a little nerve racking knowing that I’m being targeted by third parties based on Instagram selling my interests. It’s more worrisome knowing how careful I am on social media with my information and that third parties can still have access to me despite all this. The Ads and the monetary aspect of Instagram seem harmless but that’s where the majority of our information is filtered into. While I’m not scared someone will show up at my front door based on the information I have on Instagram, it is important to see the potential dangers of targeted advertising and how Instagram is incentivizing third parties using my information. The main issues we as a society need to address to account for this massive store of data is the importance that is placed on consumerism over privacy, and how we can shift that narrative.
Jessica's ASCJ 200 Blog 