Meta confirms it does not use your phone’s microphone to listen in on conversations for ads. Instead, third-party businesses may send visit or purchase details to tailor content. While there is no master switch to stop all data collection, you can limit off-platform tracking through specific settings.

July 2026 marked the rollout of Activity from other businesses. Open Instagram, go to your profile, tap the three-line menu, and open Accounts Center. Select Activity from other businesses to prevent Meta from using external interactions to personalize ads, Feed content, and AI responses. The European Region also offers less-personalized ads under Ad preferences, which relies on fewer tracking signals.

Restrict app access directly on your device. On an i Phone, navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking and disable Instagram’s permission. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Permissions and deny unnecessary access. Turn off Connect contacts in Accounts Center to stop future syncing. Removing previously uploaded data may take up to 90 days to process.