Every year, tech giant Apple always launches new smartphones to accompany new versions of iOS. And until now, such a post has never had a negative effect on social media advertising.
However, with the announcement of Apple's latest privacy policy, it looks like Instagram ads will be affected.
To that, let's make it clear how the policy would affect the ads on the platform. , that's why you should keep reading to be more informed. But first, what is Apple doing?
What Apple does …
The company is now asking app developers to alert their users before using digital advertising identifiers to collect their data.
They should start showing a pop-up window of what they intend to do, which is to track your activities on various apps.
So, with such limitations set to unfold, what then happens to the people who depend on ads for their customer acquisition, product promotion, brand awareness, or commercial revenue?
Effects of Apple's Privacy Policy on Instagram Ads
1. Difficulty competing with the best companies
One of the implications of the new privacy policy is that it will cripple the ability of small businesses to reach a wider audience.
Most startups have turned to the social world for the sole purpose of developing their brand.
In the absence of growth, the business could collapse and brands that chose to use Instagram marketing could then see their ads drop.
Therefore, it would give greater power to large companies as they would most likely benefit from this new policy.
2. Deferred and aggregated results
One of the changes Instagram ads can go through is a lag in aggregate results. Usually when there is news, users post it in real time. But with this new policy, they would experience a delay before such news was reported.
This delay in data can extend up to 3 whole days. And for web conversion events, there would also be a shift from the usual ad impression to reporting when the conversion occurs.
Also, it would be interesting to know that some types of data may end up being restricted.
3. Optimization and targeting
It would be necessary, more particularly for advertisers, to prioritize the events that they deem relevant or appropriate.
Normally the previous trend would be to optimize ad campaigns as you see fit. With this new policy, optimization can be hampered, especially for those with relatively low data points.
Therefore, small scale advertisers wouldn't be too keen to hear this news as they are likely to be more affected than those who typically have big data points like the big players.
Additionally, when people target advertisements, they do so to reach certain specific audiences and convey their products or services to the audience. Now, this policy, however, would make it difficult to present your brands to affected people through advertisements.
There are all chances to suffer from blind spots, mainly when the data being tracked is less.
4. Your marketing budget may change
Not only could this affect small businesses (since they spend tons of their budgets on targeted digital ads), this new policy could lead to job losses as well.
So, for people with an interest in book publishing, software design, and a few other related skills, it can be difficult to reach the audience you want.
Now, with this new update, how can Instagram advertisers plan their campaigns? Well, here are some of the ways you can approach Apple's latest policy:
How to adapt to the new privacy policy
1. Segment audience targeting
One of the expected lines of action would be to focus more on Android users and reach iOS users through another route.
Since this new policy is exclusive to those who use Apple devices, nothing changes for your Android customers, existing and potential.
While Apple-based user data can turn out to be inconsistent, that doesn't mean you shouldn't focus on iOS users as well.
Ultimately, however, Instagram ads will work better to target Android users than their iOS counterparts.
2. Integrate independent monitoring and retargeting practices
Once this new policy is rolled out, you will surely need alternatives to determine who to follow for your ads.
To conduct such a test, you might want to look at the events as well as the different types of auctions.
So to take it a step further, the next line of action would be why Apple decided to make this change….
Why Apple is making such a change
One of the reasons the tech giant is making this change is to give users more control over privacy.
Tons of apps actually track and collect your data; however, they won't have much power over this once the new policy is in effect. 
The change does not necessarily mean that users will not be able to see your ads; it's just a limited targeting issue leading to ad campaigns reaching the wrong people.
As mentioned earlier, this will affect Instagram ads, and most likely there will be a drop in revenue, especially for startups.
Final thoughts
The reason for such a policy, although its implementation date has not yet been published, is to protect users by giving them additional power. Apple believes that there are certain decisions that users should be able to make about their data.
Despite the delayed effect of change, it is always wise to prepare for any changes. This way you can strengthen your strategy accordingly. We have already identified ways to adapt to this change in policy.
So, in conclusion, you need to be fully aware of what to expect, whether you are a business owner, social media marketer, or content creator. It's time to anticipate the effects of Apple's latest privacy policy on Instagram ads and plan accordingly.