I read the sticky to share from instagram but i don't get it

"For Instagram - when you get a link from Instagram, delete everything from ?igsh= and beyond. That removes a person's ability to see your account."

I looked at it and the stuff after ?igsh=" is just a random string of letters or numbers.

How does this allow someone to "see your account"?

Here's a test. I share this.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTRAtafEdZW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Is it showing "my account"? oof...

The link is a post by Ariana Grande. Obviously not my account.

Edited January 13Jan 13 by moonlightfocus

Instagram has been started sharing peoples’ profile when you share a link, thankfully it didn’t happen with the link you posted. Just be careful when posting links on here

I shared it using a secondary account just to be safe.

I might be wrong in this, but if you're on desktop and copy the url link directly from the top of the browser, you won't have any issues. For example I also don't think this link should dox me (if it does I'm on a burner so it doesn't matter)

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTatDHvjAaX/?hl=en

The problem arises if you click on the three dots or the share button and hit "copy link". That gives you the ?igsh= link and it's the only way to copy a link if you're using the app on your mobile.

Edited January 13Jan 13 by Jack!

I visited the same URL above mine and clicked on the "copy link" from a desktop

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTatDHvjAaX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

oof..

but this : "thankfully it didn't happen with the link you posted"

how was it determined, through grok? again, oof...

1 hour ago, moonlightfocus said:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTRAtafEdZW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

its not sharing your instagram but the part you gotta remove is right there at the end

oh wow since when is Ari back to brunette?

1 hour ago, Cesar said:

its not sharing your instagram

how was it determined, is the question?

the good people would like to know

Just now, moonlightfocus said:

how was it determined, is the question?

the good people would like to know

When you copy a link and then paste it on a text editor or something you will see a link that includes something like igsh=TGFJFHJGHKJGHFJHDGKGHFG which is your Instagram share ID but if you erase anything after "?" you're good

if its like this link you don't have to worry https://www.instagram.com/lilbieber/reel/DTTpVMPEldx

with sharing ID goes something like https://www.instagram.com/lilbieber/reel/DTTpVMPEldx?igshid=REWOIEUTOIGGJFHSJGHFJSGFKGHKF

always use the short link cut anything after "?"

oh, ok.

Then it's only for reels?

44 minutes ago, moonlightfocus said:

oh, ok.

Then it's only for reels?

Not sure if it's only for reels but just make sure it's short like it's better for your safety and no need to be scared of sharing. Also this is not new i think it started maybe since 2024. Not only insta either Spotify, Tiktok also does this. Only platform i haven't seen doing this yet is Twitter, Reddit maybe Bluesky.

Edited January 13Jan 13 by brokee

so it goes like this...

1. Person A copies a link of a post/reel to share with others.

2. Instagram generates a unique ID that identifies Person A. This unique ID is what you see after igsh. Instagram then saves it in their database.

3. Person B clicks on Person A's link to view the Instagram post/reel.

4. Internally, Instagram quietly checks the igsh value from the link to determine if this unique ID is valid and links to a user. If it does, then Instagram will show Person B the profile of Person A and little tidbits about them.

hope that helps?

Edited January 13Jan 13 by Sombre