Instagram’s latest feature can help protect your post history from hackers. The app is adding a new “recently deleted” feature, which adds an extra step before a post can be permanently removed from your account. The feature is similar to the “recently deleted” folder in the Photos app on iOS: Delete a post and it will appear in a separate section of your profile for 30 days. These posts cannot be seen by anyone else, but will remain visible to the account owner if you have any questions and would like to restore them.
According to Instagram, it is also additional protection against hackers who often target Instagram accounts. People whose accounts are hacked usually have all of their posts removed before they can regain access, which can be a devastating loss for those who rely on their Instagram presence for their business or to keep track of family photos.
With the addition of “recently deleted,” Instagram says it will require users to verify their identity by text or email before it can restore a post or permanently remove it. The extra step is essentially a two-step verification way to clear posts from the app (but most importantly, no a replacement for using two-factor authentication to protect your account in the first place).
Obviously, if you do not have access to your account because of a hack, you will not be able to access your deleted posts immediately. And getting back to a compromised Instagram account can be a difficult task. But at least it will make it harder for a hacker to delete all of your posts as you make your way through Instagram support.