by
Block Party
October 17, 2024
Did you know that Instagram and Threads might be sharing your activity status with others by default? This means that people you follow, or have interacted with, can see when you're online, even if you didn’t explicitly turn on this feature. While it might sound harmless at first, there are real privacy concerns associated with sharing this information—especially if you're not aware of it.
The "Activity Status" feature on Instagram and Threads shows others when you're online or were last active on the app. While this can be helpful for close friends or family who want to know when you’re available to chat, it’s not always something you want everyone to know.
Even if you carefully manage your connections, there are instances where people you aren’t close with or don’t know in real life can gain access to your status.
For example, when someone replies to your Instagram story and you engage with their message, even by just liking it, the conversation moves from your message requests to your main inbox. Suddenly, that person can forever see when you’re online every time you open the app.
It's easy to see how quickly this can escalate, and it’s not ideal for someone to have unlimited access to your online activity and potential whereabouts.
1. Open Instagram or Threads on mobile and tap the profile icon on the bottom right
2. Tap the hamburger menu at the top right of your profile
3. Scroll down to “messages and story replies”
4. Tap “show activity status” and toggle it off
This automation is included in Block Party’s Instagram checklist, so if you’ve deep cleaned your IG, you’re covered!
We know how often privacy settings change, and platforms often update their default options without you knowing. That’s why we continuously monitor and alert you to any new settings that could potentially expose your private information.
Block Party offers a range of automations designed to help you get the most out of Instagram. From cleaning up old photos to managing complex settings, our expert recommendations ensure your account is secure with automations that save you time. Tap below to get started.
