Instagram : How Ads Work on Instagram
How Ads Work on Instagram
How does Instagram decide which ads to show me?
We want to show you ads from businesses that are interesting and relevant to you, and to do that, we use information about what you do on Instagram and Facebook (our parent company) and on third-party sites and apps you use. For example, you might see ads based on the people you follow and things you like on Instagram, your information and interests on Facebook (if you have a Facebook account), and the websites and apps you visit.
Learn more about:
- What you can do if you see an ad you don’t like
- Ads and privacy in our Data Policy
- How advertising works on Facebook
Where can I see the ads I’ve interacted with on Instagram?
You can see the ads you’ve recently interacted with on Instagram in your Ad Activity.
To see your Ad Activity:
- Go to your profile.
- Tap .
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Ads > Ad Activity.
How are ads about social issues, elections or politics identified on Instagram?
When ads about social issues, elections or politics appear on Instagram, they’re required to include information about who paid for them. In Feed or Stories, an ad about social issues, elections or politics will say Paid for by below the photo or video, and you’ll see information listed about the sponsor of the ad.
Reporting an ad about social issues, elections or politics
If you see an ad about social issues, elections or politics on Instagram that doesn’t have a label showing who paid for it, you can report it. To report an ad:
- Tap (iOS) or (Android) above the post.
- Tap Report Ad.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Ad Library
Ads about social issues, elections or politics that have appeared on Instagram on or after May 22, 2018, will also appear in the Ad Library. Learn more about the Ad Library.
About Instagram Ads in the Ad Library
To maintain advertising transparency on our platform, all active ads running on Instagram will appear in the Ad Library. For additional transparency, all active and inactive ads about social issues, elections or politics will remain in the Library for 7 years.
When advertisers choose to advertise on Instagram, we typically require them to associate a Facebook Page with the Instagram account they are advertising from. This allows us to ensure the authenticity of the businesses that advertise on our platform. If you do not associate a Facebook Page with your Instagram account, we will list your advertisements under your Instagram handle in the Ad Library.
The Ad Library is:
- Available to everyone. Anyone is able to view and search for ads in the Ad Library. However, if ads include certain types of content, like alcohol or gambling, we won’t show the ad creative to people who are underage or aren’t logged into Facebook.
- Searchable. People are able to search for any term, name or Page in the Ad Library. For Instagram accounts that don’t have a linked Facebook Page, people will be able to search for an advertiser’s ad using their Instagram handle name.
Control the Ads You See
What can I do if I see an ad I don’t like on Instagram?
Hide an ad
You can hide an ad you don’t like by tapping (iOS) or (Android) in the top right of the sponsored post, and then choosing Hide Ad. You can also select why you don’t want to see this ad (optional).
Report an ad
You can report an ad that is inappropriate or misleading by tapping (iOS) or (Android) in the top right of the sponsored post, and then choosing Report Ad. Similar to our Community Guidelines, we have Ad Policies that outline what ads are and aren’t allowed on Instagram.
Adjust your device settings
To make the ads you see relevant and useful, we use information about your activity on sites and apps that are not Facebook Company Products to learn about your interests. You can opt out of seeing ads based on this information in your device settings. This setting controls the Instagram ads you’ll see on the device you’re using. Turning off this setting doesn’t delete any data. You’ll still see the same number of ads, but they’ll be based on things you do on Facebook Company Products, or they may be from a specific business that you’ve shared your contact information with, if we’ve matched your profile to their customer list or if you’ve shared data with them offline.
Adjust your ad preferences on Facebook
Go to your ad preferences on Facebook to control how we use information from partners to show you ads across Instagram and other Facebook Company Products. If we can determine you’ve made a choice on other Facebook Company accounts that you use, we’ll apply your ads preferences to them as well. To make sure your ad preferences are applied, connect your Instagram account to your Facebook account
Your Info and Instagram Ads
Does Instagram let advertisers use my photos or videos?
No. You own your own photos and videos. Learn more about what you can do if you think your intellectual property rights are being violated.
Why did I see my friend’s username paired with an ad on Instagram?
With Instagram ads, you may see posts about actions your friends have taken on Instagram paired with ads you see. For example, you might see a friend’s username who has already liked a post you’re seeing advertised. Similarly, your friends might see posts about you that relate to the ads they’re seeing. These posts will only be shown to friends and will adhere to any privacy settings you’ve set for your Instagram account, as well as any ad settings associated with your linked Facebook account, if you have one.
To see your Facebook Ad settings, go to your Ad Preferences.
Note: It’s against our advertising policies for advertisers to use your name directly in an ad. If you see an ad that you think might be using your name in a different way, please report the ad.
Why does my Instagram username or profile photo show in some ads to my friends?
Your profile picture or username may be paired with an ad to show your activity on Instagram (example: if you follow a brand’s Instagram account). Keep in mind that your username and profile picture will only appear to the people who have permission to view your likes or follows.
Keep in mind that it’s against our advertising policies for advertisers to use your username directly in an ad. If you see an ad that you think might be using your username in a different way, please report it.
Do advertisers have access to my personal information on Instagram?
Instagram doesn’t share information with advertising partners or advertisers that personally identifies you unless you give us permission. Personally identifiable information is information like your name or email that can by itself be used to contact you or identify who you are.
