Instagram: Bug reveals multiple account login can allow shared user to see personal notifications

A little less than a week into Instagram's multiple account login rollout, the photo sharing app is already witnessing a bug. If you share a second Instagram account with anyone as most commercial and social establishments do, one, some or even all of those users could be receiving your personal notifications and Direct Messages from your primary account.

Android Central reports that a user's personal account, which may be restricted to the public, can now be accessed if you share a second account access with others. Besides, you could also be receiving their personal notifications and Direct Messages from their primary accounts.

Users report that these notifications are random and even disappear after a while, suggesting that the problem may not be affecting all users as of now. Instagram has said it is aware of the issue and is working to fix it.

Social and commercial establishments that manage social media accounts for their entities could be affected by this bug. It is advisable that until Instagram fixes this deeply concerning privacy issue, social media accounts be handled by a single person.

After months of beta testing on both iOS and Android, Instagram had rolled out the multiple account login access on 8 February. Users can now manage multiple accounts from a single device, a big boon for commercial and social accounts that use the platform to promote their products and causes.

Facebook, which owns Instagram, is also working on a similar feature for its messenger app. Given the bug in Instagram, Facebook will need to be extra cautious with any such issue as the company has already come under criticism for various privacy related controversies including sharing personal data of users without their knowledge.