Do you want to create a new social media page without having it suggested to your friends and family? Maybe you’re launching a new business and you’re feeling nervous. Or maybe you’re trying something experimental and aren’t ready to share it with friends yet. Whatever the reason, you might want to create a burner Instagram account without your real-life friends knowing 😅

Unfortunately, the reality is that it is not a simple task. Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are the ultimate data collection machines.

These platforms use a huge amount of data to try to link your new accounts to any of your existing social media accounts. They’ll look at all the data you give them. This includes your GPS location, the WiFi you connect with, the phone you’re logging in, and even your Facebook account!

If you share this data, they'll connect your private page to your personal one. Soon they'll start suggesting your private page to your real-life contacts. Yikes!

Here’s the good news: it’s not impossible to create anonymous instagram pages! Here are two options for how to make an Instagram burner account. We’ll go over the pros and cons, plus the steps you need to take to keep your anonymous account private.

Safest option: Have someone else post for you!

When it comes to options for how to create an anonymous Instagram account, the safest bet is to have someone else post for you! You'll still want to follow the precautions below (like using a new phone number or anonymous email). But, having someone else post on your behalf gives you the best chance of staying hidden from friends and family!

Option 1: Use an Auto-Poster

The first option is to use automatic posting software, like Buffer or one of their many competitors. If you use software to post for you, can can avoid having to log in to your anonymous page from your personal phone number! This makes it much harder for the platforms to link your new page to your personal Instagram profile.

Pros

• These platforms have various pros and cons, but most of them have a the same basic features. You'll be able to post the various types of content (Reels, Stories, etc) and view analytics in the dashboard. Many even have additional features like hashtag suggestions or the ability to reply to DMs.

• Many of the auto-posters support different platforms, which makes it easy to cross post your content beyond Instagram. If you have aspirations to grow on TikTok, YouTube, even Snapchat, this can be a great feature!

Cons

• These platforms aren't free! Most start at $25 per month and go up from there 💸 If you are cost sensitive, this might not be the best option for you! If not, the benefits of protected privacy might be worth the price tag.

• These platforms won't create pages, so you'll still need actually make your ig burner account. You should create your page from a device that can't be linked to your personal account. Some examples include, a library computer, an old reset phone on public wifi, or a distant friend's phone.

Option 2: Find Someone to Post For You

Another option, you can find someone to post for you! If you find another creator who wants to stay anonymous, you can share contact information. They create and manage your anonymous page, and in exchange, you create and manage their anonymous page.

How can you find your partner in crime? Plenty of posts online discuss creating an anonymous page. You comment on one of these posts and try to find someone there!

Pros

• Also unlike the auto-posters, a remote person can create the page for you. This avoids the hassle of finding a public computer to create your accounts from.

• If you find a good creator to collaborate with, they will be a great resource! Since you're both trying to grow online, they can offer feedback on your content and vice versa!

• Unlike using an auto-poster, this is free!

Cons

• It can be hard to find the right person! At the end of the day, you'll have to trust a stranger with access to your page 😬

• You can't log into the account yourself, which complicates things! You won't get as much feedback and it will be harder to take certain actions. Things like replying to comments, replying to DMs, and following relevant accounts will be much harder!

Riskier Option: Post yourself!

You can create and manage your anonymous Instagram account yourself, although it’s not easy! To avoid having your account suggested, you’ll need to be extra careful. Any small slip-up and the platforms will be able to link your private page to your personal page. Below are the precautions you’ll need to take for your private Instagram page to remain secret.

Precaution 1: Get a New Phone 📱

To be anonymous on Instagram, you’ll need to use a totally different phone. If you log into the Instagram app on the same phone that you use for your personal account, they’ll immediately link the accounts. Once they link the accounts, they will start recommending your anonymous page to your real-life friends and family. Mission failed 💀

As a precaution, it’s best to use a totally different phone. If you own an old phone, that is ideal. If not, consider asking others, as many people have unused phones available. Just make sure to do a factory reset on the phone before using it, so there’s no personal information left on the device.

The best option is to get a cheap old iPhone or Android on the internet. Since it won't be your primary phone, its age or condition is less important.

Precaution 2: Use Different Wifi or a VPN 🛜

If you log into your anonymous social media account on the same Wi-Fi as your personal one, the platform can link your accounts. Some people recommend leaving the phone in a totally different building and only using it when you’re there. This can be tricky if you also use your personal phone in that building, though! You’ll want to choose a building where lot’s of other people are also using the wifi, like a university or office building.

Another option is install a VPN app on your new phone. VPNs send your internet traffic through a different location. This means platforms can't trace it back to you, even if you're on your home Wi-Fi. This is a much easier than leaving your phone in a different location, but good VPN will cost money, usually $10-$20 per month.

Here is an article that compare the merits of different VPN apps.

Precaution 3: Use a New Email Address and Fake Name 📧

For obvious reasons, you’ll need to sign up from a new email account. This is simple and free to do through Gmail. You can use your burner email account to sign up for Instagram or TikTok. Just never log into your private page or email from the same phone or Wi-Fi you use for your personal page or email!

You probably should create a fake name for your burner account. Check out our Fake Name Generator for Anonymous Creators.

Precaution 4: Create a New Identity

Here at Alias, we’re building an app that lets you replace your face with an AI generated face. This allows you to post normal content (like TikTok trends or dances) while keeping your identity private! Even if you plan to make faceless content, you can use Alias to create an anonymous profile picture.

You can download Alias here!

After swapping your face with Alias your family and friends won’t recognize you, even if they do stumble on your content! You should still be careful! Make sure to use nondescript backgrounds and cover up any personalized markings like tattoos or birthmarks!

Precaution 5: Don’t Give GPS Permission 🛰️

You’ll need to make sure never to give the platforms access to your location. They’ll ask for this for fun features like geo-tags in your post.

However, if you give up your location, they’ll be able to link your private and personal account. You should make sure this permission always stays “off”.

Precaution 6: Don’t Give Contacts Permission 📴

It goes without saying that you should never give your contacts to the platform. This is easier said than done: they’ll repeatedly ask you for access to your contact. If you slip up and press “yes” at any point, they’ll link your pages. This is another advantage of using a 2nd phone: you should make sure you don’t have any personal contacts on your new phone!

Precaution 7: Block IRL Connections 🙅

To be extra safe, many anonymous will block their real-life connections. This is time-consuming and tedious, but adds a layer of protection. Unfortunately there is no way to mass-block accounts on Instagram, so you have to go through your connections one-by-one. We recommend starting with a few of the most important people, and going from there!

Precaution 8: Don’t Send Content ✉️

If you’re using your new account and see something funny/relevant, you’ll have to resist the urge to send it to friends! If you send anything from your private account to personal connections, the platforms will be able to link your pages.

Sometimes even if you’re just copying the link and sending it as a text message. Don't send any content from your private page!

Instead, just find the post from your personal phone and personal account and send it from there!

At Alias, we believe everyone has the right to online anonymity and control over who sees their content. I hope this article helped if you figure out how to make a burner Instagram account! Whatever your reasons, we wish you the best in your attempt to create an anonymous social media page!

Happy creating!