Faisal Bashir/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Instagram has opted all of its public accounts in an unpopular AI photo sharing setting
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has quietly opted all public Instagram accounts into a new AI feature that allows anyone to generate images using your public photos. Most users had no idea until the backlash hit social media earlier this week.
Called Muse Image, the feature — the latest rollout from Meta AI — allows users to mention any public Instagram account in an AI prompt, and Meta’s AI will then use that account’s public photos to generate new images based on your likeness.
For example, you can tell Instagram: “Turn Kylie Jenner into a Minion,” and to create that image, Meta AI will use the photos of her public profile.
If your account is public, the same could be done with your photos as a result of Instagram automatically opting public profiles into the feature. Private accounts and accounts belonging to users under 18 are automatically excluded.
Instagram has opted all public accounts into its new Muse AI feature, which allows anyone to generate images of you — here’s how to turn it off
1. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile
2. Tap the three-line menu in the upper-right corner
3. Select *Settings and activity*
4. Scroll to *Sharing and reuse*
5. Turn off *Allow people to use your content on Instagram and with AI features on Meta”
It should be noted that opting out only prevents future image generation — any AI images someone created before you switched the setting off still remain in circulation — Meta won’t retroactively remove them.
“Muse Image is our most advanced image generation model yet: it follows instructions faithfully, edits with precision, composes from multiple references, and draws on Instagram for social context. It also brings agentic tool use capabilities and integrates with Muse Spark. Muse Video, built on the same pretraining base, delivers exceptional visual fidelity with native audio support.”
At the time of this writing, the feature is still rolling out across the United States, so you may not see the setting yet. If not option is not present, the safest option is switching your account to private in the interim.
Meta has said the feature includes “strong controls and safety guardrails” and that it will take action against content that violates Community Standards.
“We built this feature with strong controls and safety guardrails from day one. Private accounts that are under 18 are automatically excluded and adults with public accounts can opt out with easy-to-use controls. We’ll take action against any content that violates our rules,” Meta said in a statement.
SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, has already advised its members to opt of the setting to protect their likeness.
Meta now lets anyone use your Instagram photos in AI images without your consent. SAG-AFTRA recommends that #SagAftraMembers (and all Instagram users) opt-OUT of Meta’s new AI image generation tool, Muse Image. Take action to protect your likeness. pic.twitter.com/8uKBLx6qRZ
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) July 10, 2026