Feuillesmortes
Member
Someone from a Whatsapp group chat was able to identify my Instagram account knowing only my phone number, which has caused me to look into how that happens. I would be grateful if anyone can check my understanding.
Below is an example of two people with the Instagram and Snapchat apps installed on their phones, with default settings for those apps.
Person A has Person B's phone number in his contacts.
Person B doesn't have Person A's phone number.
- Instagram suggests B's Instagram account to A. It doesn't show A which phone number relates to B's Instagram account but does make clear that the suggestion has been derived from A's contacts.
- Instagram doesn't suggest A's Instagram account to B (unless A chooses to follow B).
- Snapchat suggests B's Snapchat account to A. While it's because A has B's phone number, Snapchat doesn't show the source of the suggestion.
- Snapchat also suggests A's Snapchat account to B. Again it's because A has B's phone number, but Snapchat doesn't show the source of the suggestion.
Below is an example of two people with the Instagram and Snapchat apps installed on their phones, with default settings for those apps.
Person A has Person B's phone number in his contacts.
Person B doesn't have Person A's phone number.
- Instagram suggests B's Instagram account to A. It doesn't show A which phone number relates to B's Instagram account but does make clear that the suggestion has been derived from A's contacts.
- Instagram doesn't suggest A's Instagram account to B (unless A chooses to follow B).
- Snapchat suggests B's Snapchat account to A. While it's because A has B's phone number, Snapchat doesn't show the source of the suggestion.
- Snapchat also suggests A's Snapchat account to B. Again it's because A has B's phone number, but Snapchat doesn't show the source of the suggestion.
