How do I prevent my contacts from finding me on Instagram?

[jed]

Hi. I'm a gay guy. But I'm not fully out to my family and friends.

I want to use Instagram to get to know other lgbt people.

Hence, I do not want my family,friends, colleagues to find/follow me on Instagram.

But Instagram now prompts you to share contacts and allow your contacts to find/locate you on Instagram.

Is there a way to prevent this?

I don't really want to set my account to private because that means other lgbt people won't be able to see my photos freely. And making my Instagram account private means that my family,friends will still be able to find me on Instagram, then they will request to follow me. Then I will have to either oblige or block them ( which they will be unhappy if I block them)

I understand that there is a way to unsync/disconnect your contacts from connecting with you on Instagram.

But I'm concerned, if I disconnect/ unsync my contacts, can they still find me even though they still have my mobile number in their phones?


I didn't use my mobile number to sign up for my Instagram account. But I have WhatsApp and my friends,family, colleagues's mobile numbers stored in my phone.


Can someone help me with this? I will really appreciate your help.

Thank you.

 

[Flint Marko]

Can't say I'm super familiar with all of the privacy settings on instagram, or the Whatspp. But I think if you use your real name they'll possibly be able to search you and find your profile, depending on how many followers you both have in common and how common your name is. Maybe create an account under an alias? I know that isn't the best answer, but that's probably what I'd do in your shoes and as long as you're forthcoming to the people you meet on instagram, I'm sure they'd understand.

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

I don't use social media, so, i have no idea.
But the alias one might be the best answer.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Don't insert any personal info.

 

[jed]

Can't say I'm super familiar with all of the privacy settings on instagram, or the Whatspp. But I think if you use your real name they'll possibly be able to search you and find your profile, depending on how many followers you both have in common and how common your name is. Maybe create an account under an alias? I know that isn't the best answer, but that's probably what I'd do in your shoes and as long as you're forthcoming to the people you meet on instagram, I'm sure they'd understand.

Thanks for your reply. Of course, I didn't use my real name as my user name on Instagram.

Appreciate your reply.

 

[jed]

Don't insert any personal info.

Thanks for your advice. Such as ??

 

[Flint Marko]

Thanks for your reply. Of course, I didn't use my real name as my user name on Instagram.

Appreciate your reply.

No problem, you should be good then far as I know

 

[jed]

Hi Isildur's Heir,

Thanks for your advice.

Of course. It's the same as posting on forums.

We all don't use our real names when posting on forums.

Appreciate your reply.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Thanks for your advice. Such as ??

Photo, name, address... the usual.
And conceal your phone number and e-mail address.

 

[jed]

No problem, you should be good then far as I know

Thank you.

 

[jed]

Photo, name, address... the usual.
And conceal your phone number and e-mail address.

I didn't use my mobile number to sign up for an Instagram account.

I create a totally new, unusual username for my Instagram account.

I created a new email to sign up for Instagram.

This new email is not the same as the one linked to my facebook account. (which my family,friends have access to)