JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Instagram is ranked one of the most popular apps in the iPhone app store.
Following in the footsteps of Facebook and Twitter, Instagram is designed to allow you to capture memories and share them with friends in an instant.
"I love Instagram. It's very popular with the high-school and middle-school generations," said Gielow Marketing CEO Sonja Dyess.
Dyess regularly uses Instagram for her personal life. But warns you need to be careful.
"If you don't want your grandmother to see it, don't post it," she said.
New privacy policy changes slated to start in January suggest the company may accept payment in exchange for the use of your user name, pictures or likeness for advertising. Meaning, essentially, your photos aren't really yours.
"Be wary of anything you put out there because you never know who's going to be seeing it, potential employers, potential in-laws."
Dyess says the only way to stay 100 percent protected is to delete your account. And even then it will take some time.
"You can close your account but even after you close your account you have to wait for Google or Yahoo and Bing to remove the cache of it because it can still show up in your search results," she said.
Dyess says it is critical for parents to discuss with their kids how to stay safe in a virtual world.
"Talk to them about these things and about what you post because just because Miley Cyrus took that kind of photo doesn't mean you should."
Dyess also says it's a good idea to Google yourself once a month just to make sure you know what's out there.
Instagram has not commented on specifics about its advertising plans. The changes will kick in January 16.
