I want to preface this by saying that yes, I know that Instagram is bad. I am planning to get rid of it in the future but as of now I have to keep it for communication with people who are only on that platform.

So I have grapheneOS, use protonvpn (free version), use mull as my browser, and do not have google play services enabled on my phone. I do have some apps downloaded through aurora store such as Instagram, whatsapp, mychart, and mint mobile, but the rest came from f-droid.

I have noticed multiple times that after having private conversations on matrix, I get Instagram content in my feed that is scarily accurate to the conversation I had on the other platform immediately after. I know that things discussed in Instagram direct messages and group chat will give suggested content based on those conversations, but I get stuff that that is very specific to what I have ONLY discussed on matrix and didn’t look up via my browser.

So my question is how is Instagram doing this and what can I do to mitigate the spying it’s doing on my other apps. Thanks.

      • Wilzax@lemmy.world
        2·
        5 months ago

        If you can lose a friend over putting your foot down about what platforms you want to message them on, they’re not a good friend.

        It’s the kind of sad situation where you have regrets no matter what you do. If they’re unwilling to find a different way to contact you when you leave Instagram, they’re probably unwilling to do a lot of things for you. You would regret relying on them when something actually hard happens and they leave you hanging.

        • GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml
          2·
          5 months ago

          Such case is possible but I saw different. Maybe I am wrong here idk. The thing is you not willing to stay on the platform they want to stay on actually makes you a bad friend for those that don’t know anything about privacy but it’s besides the point.

        • countrypunk@slrpnk.netOP
          1·
          5 months ago

          I think I can get them to switch when I leave Instagram, which is why I said I’ve only got to keep using it for a set amount of time. The issue is really that these are aquantinces that will become friends once I move and get to hang out with them IRL.