Instagram offers a feature called ‘active status’ that lets others know when you are online. If you prefer to keep your online presence private or if you want to avoid messages during certain times you can choose to turn off this feature. This guide will provide you with a step-by-step method to disable your active status on Instagram.
How Instagram Shows You’re Online?
Let’s first understand what “active status” means on Instagram. Active status shows your friends when you’re online or the last time you were active on Instagram. It shows up as a small green dot next to your profile picture or next to your name in the direct messages area. It’s like a sign that says “I’m here!”
Reasons to Turn Off Active Status on Instagram
Why would someone want to hide this feature? There are many reasons! Maybe you want to look at your feed quietly without starting a conversation. Or perhaps you’re checking Instagram during a break at work and don’t want to be bothered. Turning off your active status lets you control when you want to be seen online letting you use Instagram your way.
Steps to Disable Active Status on Instagram
Turning off your active status on Instagram is easy. Here’s how you can do it:
- Open Instagram: Start by opening the app on your phone.
- Go to Your Profile: Tap on your profile picture at the bottom right of the screen to go to your profile page.
- Access Settings: Look for the three lines in the top right corner of your profile page and tap them. This will open a menu. From there select ‘Settings.’
- Privacy and Security: In the settings menu find ‘Privacy’ and tap it. This opens up all the privacy settings related to your account.
- Activity Status: Scroll down until you find ‘Activity Status’ under the ‘Interactions’ section and tap on it.
- Turn It Off: You’ll see a switch next to ‘Show Activity Status.’ If the switch is on (you’ll see green) tap it to turn it off. Once off it should change to grey.
What Happens Next?
After you turn off your active status your friends and contacts won’t be able to see when you are online or when you last used Instagram. Remember this means you also won’t be able to see when others are online.
Pros and Cons of Hiding Your Online Status
Benefits
- Privacy: Gives you more privacy by letting you control who sees when you’re online.
- Freedom: You can look at Instagram without feeling the need to reply right away.
- Focus: Helps you focus more on what you’re looking at instead of chatting.
Drawbacks
- Communication: Might make it harder to talk quickly with friends who expect to see when you’re online.
- Social Interaction: Could reduce chances for spontaneous chats that happen when friends see you are online.
Final Thoughts on Turning Off Active Status
Whether you should turn off your active status on Instagram depends on what you prefer: being private or staying connected. If you like browsing in peace, turning off your active status might make your Instagram experience better. But if you enjoy talking to people and don’t mind if they know you’re online maybe keep it turned on.
Turning off your active status on Instagram is an easy change that can make a big difference in how you use the app. It lets you decide when you want to be seen online. Whether you choose to turn it off or keep it on the most important thing is that you use Instagram in a way that makes you the happiest.