Teens have figured out how to mess with Instagram’s tracking algorithm

Teenagers are using group accounts to flood Instagram with random user data that can’t be tied to a single person. If you wanted to confuse Instagram, here’s how.

First, make multiple accounts. You might have an Instagram account dedicated to you and friends, or another just for your hobby. Give access to one of these low-risk accounts to someone you trust.

Then request a password reset, and send the link to that trusted friend who’ll log on from a different device. Password resets don’t end Instagram sessions, so both you and the second person will be able to access the same account at the same time.

Finally, by having someone else post the photo, Instagram grabs metadata from a new, fresh device. Repeat this process with a network of, say, 20 users in 20 different locations with 20 different devices? Now you’re giving Instagram quite the confusing cocktail of data.

Source: Teens have figured out how to mess with Instagram’s tracking algorithm – CNET