As of Instagram's 2026 updates, these three Instagram settings — Sharing and Reuse, Location Sharing, and Activity Status — control how much of your activity and content are visible to others. Here's what to check and why.
Instagram now lets other people, and some Meta AI features, reuse certain public content.
Depending on the settings, others may be able to:
For creators, some of these tools can help reach a larger audience.
For everyone else, they may not be necessary.
The easier it is to download or reuse content, the easier it becomes for scammers and impersonators to copy photos, videos, or audio.
That doesn't mean these features are unsafe. It simply means they're worth reviewing to make sure they're set the way they're intended.
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Settings and Activity → Sharing and Reuse
Take a minute to review each option and turn off anything that isn't needed.
Instagram recently introduced location sharing, making it easier to let friends know where someone is.
Convenient? Sometimes.
Necessary? Not for everyone.
Location can be shared with:
Sharing a live location gives others real-time information about where someone is, not just where they were.
For most people, there's simply no reason to leave this turned on all the time.
If the account is ever compromised, or if the wrong person gains access, that information becomes even more valuable.
Choosing "No One" is usually the safest option unless location sharing is being used intentionally.
Settings and Activity → Story, Live and Location → Location Sharing
Double-check who can see the location, or turn it off completely.
Instagram can tell other people when someone is online or when they were last active.
Many users don't even realize this feature is enabled.
Activity status reveals patterns.
It tells people when someone is active, when they're likely to reply, and when they're using the app.
That information might seem harmless, but it's one more piece of personal information that doesn't need to be public.
Turning it off is a simple way to add another layer of privacy.
Settings and Activity → Messages and Story Replies → Show Activity Status
If there's no need for people to know when the account is active, switch it off.
Most online scams don't start with sophisticated technology.
They start with information.
The more someone can learn about an account, the easier it becomes to build trust, impersonate someone, or create a convincing scam.
That's why it's a good habit to review privacy settings every time Instagram rolls out new features.
A few small changes today can help keep personal information exactly where it belongs, with the people it's meant to be shared with.