How to Get Rid of Annoying Instagram Ads – MakeUseOf

Since Instagram introduced advertisements and a non-chronological feed, there has been no shortage of paid posts on users' feeds. Nowadays, scrolling through your feed feels like driving past multiple billboards on a highway or watching cable TV because there are just too many ads on Instagram.So if you're tired of scrolling past annoying ads on Instagram, read on. This article will give you detailed, step-by-step guides on how to stop certain ads on Instagram.Instagram ads appear in your main feed and in your Stories, with the label Sponsored at the top of the post, below the brand name. They also include an action button at the bottom. Sponsored posts come in various types and formats, including images and videos. They prompt you to take action based on the company's goal for the ad.Below are some of the actions you may be prompted to take:If you're wondering how to get rid of ads on Instagram, there are several methods you can use, such as hiding and reporting specific ads and blocking certain accounts.A word of caution, though: while blocking ads on Instagram completely is impossible, you can limit or block irrelevant or annoying ads on the app each time you see them. This can make a noticeable difference to your app experience, so it's worth a try.Here's how to get rid of certain ads on Instagram…If you find a particular ad annoying or repetitive, you can easily hide it.Simply follow these steps to hide an ad on Instagram:Marking it as inappropriate or irrelevant will make it less likely that the ad will appear again on your feed since you'll be seen as the wrong audience for the ad. Selecting a different option may simply reduce the frequency with which you see it.If you want the ad removed from Instagram due to violating community standards or false advertising, you should use the second method.To report an ad that you find inappropriate or misleading, follow the steps below:However, be careful not to falsely report ads if they do not violate any rules or mislead users.An additional way to remove Instagram ads is to block the brand’s account. Here's how:Of course, this will remove just one page’s ads, and you must repeat this for any other advertising account you do not wish to see ads from. This works well if there's a specific advertiser you never want to hear from and that you don't wish to follow on Instagram.Personalized ads on Instagram can be annoying because they make assumptions about you based on data points. For example, if you follow plus size brands on Instagram, you may start seeing ads for weight loss apps and diets. If you have a medical diagnosis, you may also suddenly start being spammed for ads aimed at that diagnosis, some of which are scammy.So to get rid of annoying personalized ads on Instagram, use these steps.The final method to get rid of annoying Instagram ads is telling the platform what topics you aren't interested in. This doesn't remove all ads; just the ads relating to the topics you specify.It's not uncommon to rack your brain wondering when you followed the brands trying to sell products to you, only to realize that you're looking at a paid advertisement instead of a regular post. But why does Instagram have so many ads?Instagram ads work by tracking your activity on Instagram. This includes the posts you interact with and even the people you follow. But it extends to Facebook, too. If you've linked Instagram to Facebook, Instagram may show you ads based on your Facebook activity, interests, information, and the posts you create and engage with. Having your Instagram and Facebook accounts linked can be a nuisance. But you can unlink Instagram from Facebook.But that's not the only way that these ads find you. Instagram also tracks your activity on its ad partners' websites, shops, and apps. Have you ever browsed Nike sneakers on the Nike website, only to be bombarded with ads for sneakers on Instagram shortly afterward? It seems weird, and it may spook you, but that's how Instagram targets you with relevant ads.Instagram and its advertisers' marketing partners also sometimes send Instagram information that may help it target you, like your contact information. And what's more, you may see the same sponsored ads multiple times over, making them obtrusive and repetitive—potentially ruining your in-app experience. It's annoying, but Instagram stated that user tracking keeps the app free.You can find out why you see certain ads by tapping the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of an ad and selecting Why you're seeing this ad.Instagram keeps tabs on the ads you've interacted with under Ad preferences. To view this activity, follow the steps below:Recent ad activity will show you your recent activity based on your engagement. You can select Ad topics to tell Instagram which topics you prefer not to see ads about, but this will not remove ads altogether—just ads for certain things. Tap Ad settings and follow the prompts to review and update your ad preferences.While there is no surefire way of completely and permanently removing ads on Instagram, the methods mentioned in this article will drastically reduce the annoying ads you do see.Unfortunately, this has to be done as often as you come across the ads, as there’s not a single, easy way to remove Instagram ads all at once. Nevertheless, it's worth doing if you want a more peaceful experience on the app.The best of MakeUseOf, directly in your inbox.By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.source