Instagram does not hear your talks, swears CEO; users say 'not hearing us secretly will get Zuckerdaddy less money’

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri has addressed a long-standing rumour that the platform secretly listens to users' private conversations to serve targeted ads.

In a recent video, Mosseri firmly denied these claims, calling the idea a myth and a “gross violation of privacy.”

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“We do not listen to you. We do not use the phone’s microphone to eavesdrop on you,” Mosseri said. He added that if Instagram were secretly using your microphone, users would notice a significant battery drain and a microphone indicator light would appear—clear signs that the device is actively listening.

So why do ads sometimes seem to match recent conversations? According to Mosseri, it’s not because Instagram is spying on users, but rather due to several other factors:

User behaviour: Ads are based on what users engage with on the app, what they search for online, or who they interact with.

Advertiser data sharing: Instagram works with advertisers who share information about website visitors. If you've browsed a product online, that data might be used to show you related ads on Instagram.

Subconscious recognition: Sometimes, users notice ads after they've seen them earlier without paying much attention. When the topic later comes up in conversation, it feels like a strange coincidence.

Coincidence: Occasionally, it really is just random timing.

Despite repeated clarifications, Mosseri acknowledged that some users may remain skeptical. Still, he emphasised that Instagram does not access private conversations through your microphone.

This clarification comes as Meta, Instagram’s parent company, announced a policy update. Starting December 16, Meta will begin using interactions with its generative AI tools to personalise content and ads across platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Users will be informed of this change beginning October 7, and notably, there will be no option to opt out.

However, users are not convinced and one responded back saying: "You cannot convince on this as this is done on facebook and Instagram simultaneously. After just speaking a keyword, it is for sure i will 100% receive that product/service related advertisement. Call it a flaw, loophole, but this is happening since 3-5 years and the pace and efficiency of this algorithm has increased with time."

Another wrote: "Oh I know you aren’t listening to us because if you would you’d ditch the useless algorithm and we could spread our content naturally like in the good old days. But that would mean less app usage and therefore less money for Zuckerdaddy and the rest of you. Just like Apple you once were exciting and cool. Now we feel used and abused."