Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with over one billion active users. At its core, Instagram is a photo and video sharing app that allows users to share images and videos with their followers. However, in recent years, Instagram has also become a powerful advertising platform, with businesses and brands using the platform to promote their products and services to users all over the world.
If you’ve been using Instagram for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed that ads are now a common feature of the platform. You might be scrolling through your feed and suddenly come across an ad for a new product or service that you’ve never heard of before. You might be wondering why you’re suddenly getting ads on Instagram, especially if you’ve never seen them before. In this blog post, we’ll explore why you’re getting ads on Instagram all of a sudden and what you can do about it.
Why am I getting ads on Instagram?
The short answer to this question is that you’re getting ads on Instagram because you’re a user of the platform. Instagram, like many other social media platforms, has become a popular advertising platform because of the sheer number of people who use it on a daily basis. However, the ads you see on Instagram aren’t random; they’re targeted based on your interests and behavior on the platform.
Instagram uses a variety of data points to determine which ads to show you, including the accounts you follow, the posts you like, the hashtags you use, and the content you engage with. For example, if you frequently like and comment on posts about fitness, you may start seeing ads for workout gear or fitness programs. Similarly, if you follow a lot of fashion influencers, you may start seeing ads for clothing and accessories.
In addition to the data Instagram collects about your activity on the platform, the company also uses information from Facebook (which owns Instagram) to target ads. If you have a Facebook account, the information you provide on that platform can be used to inform the ads you see on Instagram. This means that if you like certain pages or interests on Facebook, you may start seeing ads for related products or services on Instagram.
Should I be concerned about the ads on Instagram?
One of the biggest concerns that people have about ads on Instagram (and other social media platforms) is that their personal information is being used without their consent. It’s true that Instagram and Facebook collect a lot of data about their users, but the company’s policies state that they only use this data to deliver more relevant and personalized content, including ads.
Instagram’s policies also state that the company does not sell users’ personal information to third-party advertisers. This means that while the ads you see on Instagram are targeted based on your interests and behavior on the platform, the advertisers themselves don’t have access to your personal information unless you explicitly provide it to them.
Of course, you may still be uncomfortable with the idea of ads on Instagram, especially if you feel like your personal data is being used without your consent. If that’s the case, there are a few things you can do to limit the ads you see on the platform.
How to control the ads you see on Instagram
Instagram provides users with a few different options for controlling the ads they see on the platform. Here are a few ways you can adjust your ad preferences:
Hide individual ads
If you see an ad that you don’t like or that you find irrelevant, you can hide it by tapping the three dots in the top right corner of the post and selecting “Hide Ad.” Instagram will then ask you to explain why you’re hiding the ad (e.g. “It’s not relevant to me,” “I’ve seen it too many times,” etc.). This information helps Instagram improve the ads it shows you in the future.
Block certain advertisers
If you don’t want to see ads from a certain advertiser, you can block them by tapping the three dots in the top right corner of one of their ads and selecting “Block” from the menu. You’ll then have the option to block the advertiser’s account or just the specific ad you’re seeing.
Adjust your ad preferences
Instagram allows users to adjust their ad preferences by going to the “Settings” menu in the app and selecting “Ads.” From there, you can select “Ad Topic Preferences” to indicate which topics you’re interested in and which ones you’re not. You can also select “Hide Advertisements About This Topic” for certain topics that you don’t want to see ads for.
Conclusion
Getting ads on Instagram can be a bit jarring if you’re not used to it, but it’s important to remember that these ads are targeted based on your interests and behavior on the platform. If you’re uncomfortable with the ads you’re seeing, there are a few different ways to limit the number of ads you see or adjust your ad preferences. Ultimately, though, ads on Instagram (and other social media platforms) are a fact of life for most users, so it’s worth taking the time to understand how they work and how you can control them.
FAQ
Have ads increased on Instagram?
In recent years, Instagram has become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over a billion active users worldwide. The platform has always allowed businesses and companies to advertise their products and services, but in recent times, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of ads on the app.
Instagram has always been a go-to platform for influencers and businesses to promote their products and services to their followers. Brands and businesses have always had the option to promote their content as ads, appearing in users’ feeds, and in most cases, they have been able to reach a large audience. However, recently Instagram has decided to increase the amount of ad slots on the platform.
In June 2021, Instagram announced that it was adding two more ad slots to users’ feeds. These ad slots would let companies run ads on the Explore home page and in profile feeds. The decision is expected to increase the amount of advertising content users see while using the app.
The move has not been welcomed by all users, as many have taken to social media to voice their displeasure. Some users have expressed concerns that the increase in ad slots will result in a cluttered and unpleasant user experience, while others have argued that Instagram is prioritizing ad revenue over user experience.
This announcement comes just months after Instagram users loudly protested the app’s increase in the amount of A.I. -recommended content. As part of the update, Instagram changed users’ feeds to show more A.I.-recommended content that aligns with their interests, as opposed to content posted by the users they follow. This change was met with backlash, as it was seen as an attempt to force users to engage with more ads.
There has been a noticeable increase in the number of ads on Instagram. While some users find this to be a positive move, others have expressed concerns over the platform’s prioritization of ad revenue over user experience. it remains to be seen whether users will continue to use Instagram in large numbers despite the increase in advertising content.
Why is Instagram showing so many suggested posts?
Instagram is a social media platform where people share photos and videos. However, beyond just sharing content, Instagram’s algorithm tries to curate the user’s feed with content that they may be interested in. This is where suggested posts come in. For instance, you might follow your favourite celebrity or influencer, and therefore the algorithm detects this and suggests other accounts that could align with your interests.
You may see suggested posts in various places within the app. These could include your Instagram feed, Stories, Reels, and Explore; hence it’s not uncommon to see many suggested posts these days.
Several reasons could be attributed to why Instagram is showing an increased number of suggested posts:
1. Instagram’s Algorithm
Instagram uses an algorithm that learns about your preferences, activities on the app, and the accounts you follow. Based on this data, the algorithm makes personalized suggestions of accounts that you may be interested in. So, the more you use the app, the more detailed the algorithm becomes, and hence, more suggested posts.
2. The Large Number of Accounts on Instagram
Instagram has millions of users who share content every day. Therefore, it’s easy for users to miss out on content they may like. The suggested posts feature helps to fill in the gaps by bringing up content you may be interested in based on your past activity.
3. The Need for More Engagement on Instagram
The suggested posts feature also serves a marketing purpose on the app. Accounts that people don’t follow, but whose content aligns with what the users like, can be recommended to them. This helps to increase engagement on the platform and also helps to support lesser-known accounts.
The suggested posts feature on Instagram is designed to enhance the user’s experience by showcasing content that aligns with their interests. Although this feature could be seen as overwhelming, it’s essential to remember that Instagram is constantly studying our activities on the app to provide us with suggestions that align with our interest and needs.
Why am I not seeing friends posts on Instagram?
There are several reasons why you may not be seeing your friend’s posts on Instagram. One possible reason is that their account is set to “private,” meaning that only their approved followers can see their posts. If you are not following their account or if they have not approved your follow request, you will not be able to see their posts.
Another reason why you may not be seeing your friend’s posts on Instagram is due to the algorithm that Instagram uses to determine what content to show you in your feed. This algorithm analyzes your activity on the app, including the accounts you interact with the most, the hashtags you follow, and the type of content you engage with. Based on this analysis, Instagram shows you content that it believes you will be interested in.
If you have not been interacting with your friend’s posts, such as liking or commenting, Instagram may not be showing their content to you in your feed. To ensure that you are seeing your friend’s posts, try to engage with their content by liking or commenting on their posts. This will signal to Instagram that you are interested in their content and increase the likelihood of their posts appearing in your feed.
Additionally, you may have accidentally turned on the “Restrict” or “Hide from My Feed” feature for certain accounts. This feature allows you to limit the content you see from certain accounts without unfollowing them. If you have turned this feature on for an account, their posts will not appear in your feed. To check if this feature is turned on for a specific account, go to their profile, click on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, and check if “Restrict” or “Hide from My Feed” is turned on.
There are several possible reasons why you may not be seeing your friend’s posts on Instagram, including their account being set to private, the algorithm used by Instagram to determine what content to show you, and accidentally turning on the “Restrict” or “Hide from My Feed” feature for specific accounts. By interacting with your friend’s content, checking their account settings, and adjusting your own settings, you can increase the likelihood of seeing their posts in your feed.
What percentage of Instagram posts are ads?
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms with over a billion active users worldwide. It is a photo and video sharing platform that allows users to share their daily lives, express their creativity, connect with friends, and promote their businesses. However, with the rise of influencer marketing and sponsored posts, it has become difficult to distinguish between regular content and paid content on Instagram.
Many users wonder what percentage of Instagram posts are ads, and the answer is around 20.6%. According to a study by HopperHQ in 2021, Instagram is the second platform with the highest percentage of ads in the user feed, behind Facebook with 21.2%. The study analyzed over 2 billion Instagram posts from influencers, celebrities, and brands.
The percentage of ads in the user feed is a concerning factor as it affects the user experience and can lead to “ad fatigue.” Ad fatigue happens when users are exposed to too many ads, and they lose interest in the platform, resulting in a decrease in engagement and revenue.
However, to reduce ad fatigue on Instagram, the platform has implemented various features like limiting the number of ads a user sees per day, allowing users to report inappropriate ads, and introducing new ad formats like carousel and story ads. Instagram also encourages transparency in advertising by requiring users to tag their sponsored posts with the “paid partnership” tag, making it easier for users to differentiate between sponsored and regular content.
While Instagram is an excellent platform for businesses to promote their products and services, it is crucial to find the right balance between sponsored and regular content to ensure user engagement and retention. With the platform’s efforts to improve ad transparency and limit the number of ads per user, it is expected that the percentage of ads in the user feed will remain consistent or decrease.
Why are Instagram ads more expensive?
Instagram, the social media platform owned by Facebook has become increasingly popular over the years. With over 1 billion active users, Instagram has attracted a large audience, making it an ideal platform for businesses to market their products or services. However, many businesses find that advertising on Instagram can be expensive compared to other social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter. So, why are Instagram ads more expensive?
One of the main reasons that Instagram ads are more expensive is due to the platform’s target market. Instagram is more focused on personal use than professional use, with fewer businesses than people. Therefore, it can be more challenging for B2B companies to advertise on Instagram, as the competition is intense and the cost of ads increases. Companies that target consumers rather than other businesses may find Instagram more cost-effective.
Another factor that affects the cost of Instagram ads is the industry competition. Some industries, such as apparel or fashion, have a high demand for advertising, making it more expensive. As a result, advertisers must compete with others to reach their target audience, driving the cost up.
Moreover, the cost of advertisement on Instagram is also affected by the ad format. Instagram offers various ad formats like stories, photo or video ads, carousel ads, IGTV ads, and more. The cost of these ad formats differs based on the demand and competition in the market, a factor that advertisers should consider when choosing the format of their ads.
Instagram ads may be more expensive compared to other social media platforms, but it is vital to consider its target market, competition, and ad format. By identifying the right audience and format, businesses can reduce their advertising costs on Instagram and enjoy an effective marketing strategy that drives their sales and growth.