Instagram is a platform for people who love to see visual displays of what others are doing in their lives and also to show people what they are doing in their lives.
While privacy is given preference on Instagram and other social media channels, it has been seen through the years that hackers find their way to other people’s accounts and manipulate the data as they please.
In a situation as such, it’s recommended to report the hacker or give the details to the concerned authorities. Every country has its cyber security unit that files complaints against such acts.
It’s important to bring a crime into the sight of the forces before it’s too late, and that goes for a hacked Instagram account, too. If you think your or a friend’s account is hacked, report it to the police or whoever you think is the appropriate body to address this concern.
In this article, I’ll talk about unethical behaviors on social media platforms, the signs of a hacked account, and the things you can do if your account is hacked.
Keep on scrolling and reading till the end for an informative read.
Unethical Behaviors On Social Media
A person’s rightfully moral behavior towards their fellow man is what we call ethical behavior. And everything that opposes this attitude is unethical behavior.
Ethical and unethical behavior is not different on social media from real life. What you find unethical in real communication with another person is unethical on social media, too.
If social media had made communication easy, it doesn’t mean that people take advantage of it in the wrong manner. Finding a fine tune to build your social media existence is crucial.
Following are a few unethical behaviors on social media that are often noticed and extremely frustrating.
| Inappropriate Texting | Invading Privacy | Speculating Misinformation | Without Permission Posting | Imposture Account | Inappropriate Posting |
| Inappropriate texting is extremely unethical, even if you are doing it to a friend. Constantly texting, even if you aren’t getting a reply and sending uncomfortable texts, comes under this header. | Using a third-party application to get the insides of another’s account is extremely unethical. Some people tend to figure out the deleted posts through this method. | Circulating misinformation can be extremely dangerous and unethical, too. Rumors can take someone’s life, too. Be cautious when you are doing a prank on someone. | Posting someone’s content without their consent is extremely unethical and risky, as the other person can file a copyright claim and take you to court. | Faking to be someone, even if it’s a celebrity, is unethical, no matter how big of a fan you are. Always use the word fan or fan page on the account to let people know what they are dealing with rather than manipulating it. | Posting content that’s inappropriate can trigger people’s moral conduct. See your audience before posting; hurtful posting can only cause chaos. |
Signs of a Hacked Instagram Account
Suspicion calls for action. Figuring out if your Instagram is hacked or not isn’t that difficult; you have to be vigilant to know what is happening in your digital world.
Keep an open eye on the activities happening through and on your Instagram account. Following are some signs that can identify if your account is hacked.
- You find a post on your account that was never posted by you.
- Your Instagram is suddenly logged out, and even after many attempts, you are unable to log in, no matter what.
- An email comes to your ID that tells you you are logged in from another device, and you absolutely cannot figure out the device name.
- Also, a new device listed in your activity log that’s not recognizable is a sign of hacking.
- Instagram reports suspicious activity through another device, which is also a sign of having.
- Hackers often send DMs to your followers for scamming. A friend might ask you about that message, or if you are fortunate enough, you can check the sent message before it’s too late.
Things to Do With a Hacked Instagram Account
There are a few things you can do when your Instagram account is hacked. These things are categorized into two situations.
One is when you can log into your account, and another is when you cannot log in at all. Either way, report the hacking activity to either the police or the special cell of your country that deals with cyber crimes.
When You Can Log In
If you can still log in, but your account is hacked, do these to recover:
- Change your password that very instant.
- See if a third party has access to your account; deny that before the invasion gets intense.
- Add two-factor authentication for an extra security factor.
- Refer to the Account Center; if you see an unusual account link to yours, unlink it.
- Go to the settings and check if the email address and phone number are correct or not. Make amendments if need be.
When You Can’t Log In
If you can’t log in, but your account is hacked, do these to recover:
- Check your email to see if there’s an email from Instagram security. If there’s an Email Notifying you that your email address is now changed, undo the changes.
- Get help from Instagram to log in by requesting a Logging In Link.
- Verify Your Identity by asking Instagram to send a security code to your email or phone number.
Can a Hacked Instagram Account Be Reported to the Police?
Of course, hacked Instagram accounts can be and should be reported to the police or else to the authorized body.
Hacking is difficult but common. There’s more damage that could be done through hacking than you can ever imagine. It’s wise to call for help before it’s too late.
Filing a report to the police was not a thing before, but due to the rise of cyber crimes in the digital world, cyber security has become almost a necessity.
Check out the video below to learn how to recover a hacked Instagram account.
Final Thoughts
- Unethical behavior on Instagram or any other social media platform is unacceptable and discouraged by everyone.
- The signs of hacking on Instagram include unusual posting, change of email address, adding unrecognized devices, and DM that leads to scams.
- Always report a hacked account to the police or authorities.
- Ask for Instgram’s help if you can’t log in and change the password once you are in. Activate the two-factor authentication for stronger security.