How to hide Your Instagram Activity From Others

Most social media apps these days have a handy "activity status" feature that lets your friends see when you were last active. Instagram is no different - it shows people when you last opened the app right in your message threads.

But sometimes you might want a little more privacy. Maybe you don't feel like broadcasting every moment you scroll through Instagram. Or you want some separation between your personal and work accounts.

Luckily, Instagram gives you control over who sees your activity status. With just a few taps, you can keep your Instagram habits hidden from others.

To start, open the Instagram app on your phone. Tap your profile picture in the bottom menu to go to your profile. Then tap the three-line menu icon and go to "Settings".

Scroll down to the "Messages" section. Here you'll find the "Activity Status" settings. Go ahead and toggle off the "Show Activity Status" switch.

Now no one will see that little "Active Now" tag under your name when you're chatting. They won't know the last time you checked Instagram unless you tell them.

Want to hide your status on desktop too? Just log into Instagram.com from a browser instead of the app. Click your profile pic and go to "Settings". In the sidebar, look for "Privacy" and turn off activity status there.

With one simple change, you've shielded your Instagram activities from prying eyes. Use the app freely without updates about your latest likes or scrolls. Your activity is for your eyes only from now on.

Of course, the tradeoff is that you also lose the ability to see when your friends were last active. But for some more privacy, it's a small price to pay. Now you can peruse Instagram in peace!