Unwanted Instagram Ads

As an Instagram user for the last four and a half years, I was surprised when I saw advertising material on the application earlier this year in my own personal feed, but I guess I just forgot that Facebook owns Instagram. Since Facebook bought the popular app in April 2012, the social media giant has been able to use both Facebook and Instagram data to target its advertisements to particular users, in order to increase likes on the posts and potentially sales as well.

      Image: www.marketingland.com

The advertising material is distinguished by the "sponsored" title. It is also clear what company is behind the ad by the accounts name displayed on the post. Personally, every-time that I see an Instagram ad, I click the button that allows me to hide it. I also select the "I don't like this ad" button, hoping that Instagram will get the hint that I don't want to be advertised to on yet another platform. But of course I know that I am wasting my time by clicking this hide button, because no matter how many times I hide the annoying, intrusive content, there will always be another ad from another company.

I don't even read much into the advertisement before I 'hide' it, as I don't want to be sucked into something that I will probably be interest in, as I have been targeted to view it. It just makes me want to disconnect completely from social media all together... but we all know that's not going to happen any time soon.