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.
Unfortunately I do have WhatsApp and I absolutely cannot get rid of that unless I cut off all my older family members who don’t know how to use anything else (which I don’t wanna do). I’m gonna put Instagram on a separate profile like you recommended, but can’t for WhatsApp because that’ll mean I can’t pick up calls and the likes. I do have molly and quite like it, but only have a couple of friends on it that I’ve managed to convince to switch. I hope to get more on there from Instagram in the future, but will have to wait for when I am better friends with those people and less of a weird acquaintance.
The only place I get any ads nowadays is on Instagram, but I’m assuming that after I am rid of that they’ll still have a shadow profile on me in the background.
Also, another question: what is the network permission on graphene OS? I haven’t been able to find a clear answer about it on the net.
Thanks.