Since 2012, when Facebook paid $1 billion to acquire Instagram, the two websites have been clumsily navigating integration.
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Instagram direct messages were replaced by Facebook Messenger in 2020, and users were shocked to see their Instagram “likes” appear as Facebook posts back in 2014.
Promoting automated cross-posting from Instagram to Facebook is one of the most recent efforts by Facebook and Instagram owner Meta to create synergy between the two platforms. Sadly, some users are shocked to see their Instagram photographs appear on their Facebook pages since they are unaware that they have consented to cross-posting.
Find out how and why you could have unintentionally allowed picture sharing between Instagram and Facebook, as well as how to disable it using the website or the Instagram mobile app. For further tech advice, see the best TikTok privacy settings for kids and how to access your Google files when offline.
What’s causing my Facebook page to display my Instagram photos?
a screen grab of an Instagram mobile app popup requesting that posts and stories be shared to Facebook automatically. The Not Now link is just text underneath the large, blue Share button.
Screenshot via CNET/Peter Butler
Instagram began asking users to automatically post their images to Facebook last year. The prompt uses a large blue opt-in button and a smaller link with no opt-out button, a technique in interface design known as “dark pattern.”
According to a story in The New York Times, many Instagram users choose the easiest route and click the blue button to swiftly shut the prompt. Some people are astonished when they discover that their Instagram pictures have been turned into Facebook postings.
Turning off Facebook sharing is simple, regardless of whether you did it on purpose or by mistake.
How can I prevent Facebook from automatically seeing my Instagram photos?
It’s simple to entirely off automatic sharing to Facebook, but if you’re using the Instagram app, you may adjust the sharing settings for each picture separately when publishing. I’ll walk you through the process on a web browser as well as on the iOS and Android mobile apps.
Navigate to your Instagram profile page in the iPhone or Android mobile app, hit the hamburger (or three-line) symbol in the upper right corner, and then choose Settings from the menu at the top. Select Account from the Settings menu, followed by Sharing to other applications and Facebook.
images of Instagram’s settings menu that demonstrate how to choose Facebook settings, Account, and Sharing with other applications
Peter Butler/CNET composite screenshot
An image of Instagram’s sharing settings for Facebook that demonstrates that sharing reels, posts, and stories is enabled
Screenshot via CNET/Peter Butler
You may adjust automatic cross-posting for Instagram stories, posts, and reels after you’ve visited the Facebook sharing settings. If you do not want to share anything to Facebook automatically, just turn off the blue sliders.
You will need to utilize the Accounts Center, a new Meta feature, to turn off Instagram’s automatic picture sharing to Facebook.
How can I use the Accounts Center to disable Instagram’s automatic sharing to Facebook?
An image showing Instagram’s Accounts Center settings for Facebook sharing
Screenshot via CNET/Peter Butler
Through the Meta Accounts Center function on the website or app, you may disable Facebook’s automatic sharing of Instagram posts. The only option to disable automatic sharing in a web browser is via the Accounts Center, and new text on the mobile settings page suggests that it may soon be the sole way to do so in applications as well.
On the Instagram website and mobile applications, the Accounts Center link may be found at the bottom of the settings page. Clicking Sharing across profiles in the Accounts Center will allow you to modify your sharing preferences.
If you’re automatically sharing material, Facebook will appear when you choose your Instagram account under Share from. You may enable or disable the automatic sharing of posts, articles, and reels to Facebook using those recognizable blue sliders.
These sharing adjustments may also be made via Facebook’s Accounts Center, which has the same layout.
The sole difference between the Accounts Center on the Instagram website and the mobile applications is that the apps enable you configure automatic sharing for Instagram reels, while the website only provides options for sharing stories and posts, not reels.
For other tech advice, see how to send hidden messages on your iPhone and how to stay ad-free with Safari.