So I got the message from instagram about either paying or using it free (at the cost personalised ads) just now.

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Doesn’t this go against the GDPR? Either way, is there a FOSS alternative for instagram like piped is to youtube? It seems like a good opportunity to stop using the official app, even though it would be better to not use instagram at all (sadly not an option for me right now).

Any suggestions, and if so, are there any that provide functionality for: stories, posts, dms? Those are the 3 things I use instagram for.

Many thanks!

Edit: For messaging I do use beeper, though some media like carousels and posts sent to my dms cant be shown in there, so for those cases I open the official app.

Edit 2: many people have suggested pixelfed. Ive heard of it, and want to use it, but unfortunately the only reason Im still sticking with instagram is because I have very dear friends who would never change to anything non-mainstream. Theyre important enough that im willing to not delete it just yet, but I dont want to agree to either pay or pay with my data.

What im looking for is more like a piped for youtube, thing. So a frintend that has instagram content/features, but isnt the main app and avoids the problems I listed above

Edit 3: I ended up installing the site as a PWA on my phone as thats the only device I use it on, and uninstalled the official app. Thanks to everyone for all your input!

  • @crashprone
    4•7 months ago

    You can still use Instagram on your browser, without being shown the banner. Works for me with Firefox on Android.

    If you do decide to opt for the subscription (I hope you don’t) do it from your desktop browser since it costs 10€ instead of 12.99€. I haven’t tried it myself, but that’s what I read on a German website.

    I still need to use the app to stay in touch with some friends and to get updates from smaller organizations that do not have a Web presence or newsletter.

    I uninstalled Instagram when I was shown the banner. Not out of principle but I simply don’t know which action would send the right signal. By continuing to use the app for free I would be sending the signal that I do not care about my privacy.

    So do I pay for the subscription? I read somewhere elsewhere Meta makes more than that off me using targeted ads. So by subscribing do i still get to use the service and they make less money off me? There’s no guarantee they honor the no tracking even if I pay.

    So I’ve just uninstalled the app for now.

    • @Sanyanov
      13•7 months ago

      The fact is, they didn’t say they won’t collect data on you, they just won’t use it for ads

      • @ohlaph
        5•7 months ago

        Exactly. Best to uninstall and deactivate and stop using it.

    • @[email protected]English
      1•7 months ago

      from your desktop browser since it costs 10€ instead of 12.99€

      Are there any VPN shenanigans one could try to make it cheaper?

    • promitheasOP
      -1•7 months ago

      Thanks for this reply. Ive installed the site as a PWA and uninstalled the official app. Theres no way I’m either paying or giving them consent for personalised ads.