How do you get ads to pop up on Instagram?

[Serious] Been getting these popup ads from Instagram. Not sure why, I haven't downloaded anything from unknown sources either. Any help is appreciated from GalaxyS9

Since Instagram introduced advertisements and a non-chronological feed, there's 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 ads on Instagram.

How Instagram Ads Work

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 advert instead of a regular post. But why does Instagram have so many ads?

Instagram ads work by tracking your activity on the app. The more you engage with a brand's content by liking or commenting on its posts, the more likely you are to be targeted by ads from that brand.

Read more: Instagram Adds New "Drops" Section to Its Shop Tab

But that's not the only way that these ads find you. Instagram also tracks your activity on other websites that are owned by Facebook and even on third-party websites.

Ever browsed Nike sneakers with Google, only to be bombarded with ads for sneakers on Facebook and Instagram shortly afterwards? It seems weird, and it may spook you, but that's how Facebook targets you with relevant ads across apps.

Facebook does this through its retargeting service, Facebook Exchange, which allows advertisers to track your browsing habits online. As a result, they can show you more relevant ads. 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.

Related: Facebook and Instagram Add Notices That Say User Tracking Keeps Their Apps Free

How to Identify Instagram Ads

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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. A sponsored post can be an image or video, and it prompts you to take an action, based on the company's goal for the ad.

Below are some of the actions you may be prompted to take:

• Install Now for app-related ads.
• Download to download what is advertised.
• Sign Up to register on a site.
• View shop to browse items on a business' Instagram Shop page.
• Shop Now to buy the product advertised.
• Learn More to get more information on the product or service advertised.
• View Instagram Profile to go through a business' profile page.
• Send Message to get in touch with a business.
• Book Now to make a booking directly from your feed when you come across an ad.

How to View Ads Information on Instagram

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Instagram keeps tabs on the ads you've interacted with under Ad Activity. To view this activity, follow the steps below:

1. Tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner to go to your profile.
2. Select the three-bar menu in the top-right corner, then go to Settings.
3. Click Ads, then select Ad Activity.

Ad activity will show you your recent activity based on your engagements. 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.

How to Remove Instagram Ads

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 help make a noticeable difference to your app experience, so it's worth a try.

Here's how to turn off ads on Instagram...

Method 1: Hiding Instagram Ads

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If you find a particular advert annoying or repetitive, you can easily hide it.

Simply follow these steps to hide an ad on Instagram:

1. As you go through your feed and come across a sponsored post you don't like, tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the post.
2. Tap Hide Ad.
3. When asked Why are you hiding this ad?, select the most appropriate option from the list presented. This is to help Instagram better guide your ad experience on the app going forward.

Marking it as inappropriate or irrelevant will make it less likely that the advert 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...

Related: How to Link (and Unlink) Instagram to Facebook

Method 2: Reporting Ads on Instagram

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To report an ad that you find inappropriate or misleading, follow the steps below:

1. Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the post.
2. Select Report Ad.
3. Below Why are you reporting this ad?, select the reason why you’re reporting this ad from the list presented to you.

However, be careful not to falsely report adverts if they do not violate any rules or mislead users.

Method 3: Blocking Brand Accounts

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The final way to remove Instagram ads is to block the sender’s account. Here's how:

1. Tap the name of the company or brand at the top of the sponsored post. This will lead you to its profile.
2. Click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the profile.
3. Select Block.
4. You will be presented with two options: Whether you want to block the specific profile only or if you want to block any other profiles that the company may create in the future. Select the first option and tap Block.

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.

Related: Why Targeted Ads Are a Serious Threat to Your Privacy

Remove Instagram Ads to Enhance Your In-App Experience

While there is no sure-fire way of completely and permanently removing ads on Instagram, the methods mentioned in this article will drastically reduce the ads you do see.

Unfortunately, this has to be done as often 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.

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