Sometimes, navigating your way around Instagram can become a little tricky. Symbols and icons that look simple to understand may carry an entirely different meaning. And, it’s not just us amateurs who may lose our way, the same can hold true for the most avid users as well. However, it’s okay to not be able to understand everything about the app. You can rely on articles like this one on what does active now mean on Instagram to teach you more.
You may have come across Active now in your DM section. Along with the Active now mark, you may also have observed a green dot next to the name of the person it appears under. Your first guess about its meaning might have been that the person in question has added you to their close friends list. Well, not so fast. That is now what Active now is related to. If you want to know what does Active now mean on Instagram, you need to read this till the end.
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What Does Active Now Mean On Instagram | Read This To Know The Meaning!
So, Active now, is one of the most helpful features of Instagram. Its meaning and significance usually get confused with that of the green dot/ circle. People end up thinking that it has got something to do with being close friends or CFS with someone. But, no! As I said above, that is not the case at all! The Active now has got something to do with the activity status of a user!
Given the dubiousness of this feature, taking a closer look at what does Active now mean on Instagram becomes necessary. So, make sure to read this article till the end!
What Does Active Now Mean On Instagram?
By now, you may have received some idea about what does Active now mean on Instagram. I’m sure you now know that the feature has got something to do with the activity status of another Instagram user. This feature comes in handy when you want to find out if someone is online on Instagram or not.
This kind of information cannot be found just by looking at someone’s posts or the last time they uploaded a story. Plus knowing if someone is active or not will help you decide if you can have a continuous conversation with them or not.
When you swipe left from the main feed or tap on the messenger icon located at the top right to enter the DM section, you will find a list of all the chats that you’ve had. Along with some usernames, you will also find a green dot and Active Now mark. So, does it mean, that anyone on Instagram can see if you’re active or not using this feature? Well, not really.
You see, the Active now feature does let you know if another user is online or not, but it only works with people you follow and get followed by. You can’t find out anything about the activity status of someone else if the two of you are not connected on Instagram. Plus, it’s a two-way street. If you can see someone’s activity status then they can see yours in return as well.
Also, just like all other Instagram features, the Active Now feature isn’t fully accurate as well. Sometimes, the app may say that someone is not active on the platform when they just uploaded a story or a post. Well, this confusion happens because of Instagram glitches and errors. Sometimes, users have also reported a 10-minute delay before they got to see the actual activity status of someone.
The point of this is to let you know that the Active Now feature isn’t 100% reliable and that you shouldn’t be trusting it blindly to know someone’s activity status. If you want to have a conversation with them, you can just text them and ask if they are free for one-to-one or not.
How To Disable The Active Now Feature On Instagram?
So, now you know what does active now mean on Instagram and the important purpose it serves on this social media platform. However, it comes with its own set of cons. It can be particularly troublesome for people looking to have a quiet time on the app, want to scroll through reels in peace, and don’t want to be coerced into having a conversation with someone.
Well, Instagram is mindful of everyone’s needs. That’s why it gives users to turn off the Active Now feature in case someone may want to do so. Although turning off the feature will surely give you more privacy on the app, please note that you won’t be able to see other people’s activity statuses either. Because as I said above, it’s a two-way street.
So, if you’ve made up your mind about disabling the feature, follow the below-mentioned steps:
- Open Instagram.
- Go to your profile section by tapping on the profile icon in the lower right of the screen.
- Then, tap on the hamburger icon at the top right.
- From the menu that appears, choose Settings
- Next, choose Privacy
- From there, select the Activity Status option
- Now, toggle off the Show Activity Status option.
And, that’s it! Your followers will no longer be able to see your activity status on Instagram!
Final Words
Alright, people! This is what does Active now mean on Instagram! In this article, I walked you through the meaning of the Active now feature in detail! Although the feature is pretty helpful, some people may not like it. That’s why I’ve also discussed some steps that a user can take to turn it off in case need be! In case you’ve any questions regarding any of the information mentioned above, feel free to ask them in the comments section and I’ll get back to you on them ASAP!
Is Instagram accurate when it says active now?
By the time you log off, it is not exactly accurate. Instead, Instagram shows you online after a delay of a few minutes to 10 minutes. It is possible that you may be online while your computer is offline due to bugs or glitches. By the time you log off, it is not exactly accurate.
Does active now on Instagram mean the user is chatting?
This function serves to help users see when those they follow are currently using the app. Additionally, they added the green dot next to users’ names, indicating that they are currently online.
What triggers active now on Instagram?
When your Activity Status is on, people you follow and anyone you message will see when you were last active or currently active on Instagram. You can turn your Activity status on or off at any time. Tap your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
How do you know if someone is ignoring you on Instagram?
You can tell if someone has read it when it says “Seen” under the text. The only way to see if they ignored you completely is if you go to the home page, click the heart, then look at following to see if they’ve liked any posts since you’ve sent your message.
