Instagram’s new feature changes EVERYTHING

What do you make of it?

Instagram app on mobile phone

by Carl Smith |
Published on

For better or worse, we'd say we spend approximately 78.5 percent of our waking hours endlessly scrolling Instagram, double-tapping photos of avocado on sourdough and wishing we were in the Maldives like essentially all of our mates. We can't get enough, tbh.

Now the app's obviously gone through its fair share of updates over the year - from the controversial algorithm change to the introduction of Instagram Stories - and the latest features proving pretty divisive as some claim it's all a bit...Black Mirror.

Yup; much like WhatsApp, Instagram will now tell users when their pals are online. Hmm.

Instagram app on mobile phone
©© Shutterstock

Twitter-type Kelly Prince-Wright brought the update to the attention of the internet, saying: "Instagram messages turning into Whatsapp and Facebook where everyone knows when you’re online? 😱 No thanks! You can switch this feature off. How? Go to settings.

"Swipe the show activity status tab off. Super easy! Keep your online privacy, a tiny bit more private 👏".

The update currently only shows you who's active in the direct message area of the app, and if you're someone who'd rather keep a low profile we have some good news; you can actually turn the feature OFF.

It's the 'Show Activity Status' option in Instagram’s settings, just FYI. We kinda love it though.

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us