What Does ‘Active Now’ on Instagram Actually Mean

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What Does ‘Active Now’ on Instagram Actually Mean

Instagram is one of the most popular social media apps today, and over time, has added a wide range of features to make the app more user-friendly. These features aim to make it easier for users to connect with their friends and family and find more relevant content.

One of these features is the Active Now feature. This function serves to help users see when those they follow are currently using the app. Additionally, the added green dot next to users’ names indicates that they are currently online.

Many users have expressed confusion over how this feature works and what it means, mainly because it is often not correct.

Let’s take a look at what Active Now actually means.

What Does ‘Active Now’ Mean on Instagram?

Your activity status is only available on Instagram Direct to others, or Instagram Messenger if you updated to the newer Facebook/Messenger/Instagram messaging system. People cannot determine if you’re online just by looking at your posts or stories.

When you enter IG Direct/IG Messenger, you can see the list of all your chats and their timestamps. If you are following a person, and the person follows you back, you can see whether or not they are online.

Active now means that the other party is currently on Instagram, whether scrolling the posts, accessing messages, making a Reel, or even leaving the app open yet unattended.

You will see a green dot under their picture and the “Active Now” status. You can’t get this information if a person hasn’t followed you back or sent you a direct message (DM) in Instagram. On the other hand, Meta Facebook/Meta Messenger only require you to be friends to see their online status. Regardless of the comparison, seeing that someone is active now means they know the same thing about you.

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Is ‘Active Now’ Accurate?

You may see a friend’s status as inactive, yet they just uploaded a post. There are delays and glitches with the activity feature that can cause some confusion. For this reason, we feel it’s important to point out that the Active Now status isn’t always accurate.

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It’s been reported that some users see up to a ten-minute delay before seeing an activity status. The same goes for the Last Seen feature. Just because it says someone was online 20 minutes ago, does not mean that it’s accurate or that they didn’t suddenly become busy.

Possible causes of Instagram incorrectly showing friends as “Now Active” include, but are not limited to the following:

  • The user has slower or unreliable internet, leading to data delays or lost data, usually occurring on mobile phones or congested public Wi-Fi.
  • Your internet is slow or unreliable, leading to delayed data reception or corrupt/lost data packets, usually on mobile phones or congested public Wi-Fi.
  • The user turned off their activity status.
  • Your follower’s phone/tablet/PC is running slow due to unavailable resources such as having too many apps open or experiencing freezing processes that cause delays.
  • The other person has cache that needs cleared on the device, causing inaccurate information.
  • Your device utilized previously stored cache that interferes with the follower’s current status.
  • Your follower has Instagram running in the background (depends on device, settings, and what is running) but not actively using it.
  • Your follower clicked a link that opens Instagram, but they view it and immediately close the app, leading to a delayed activity response.
  • The follower closed/minimized Instagram within the last five minutes, since there can be a slight delay in status updates.

What if You Don’t See the Green Dot?

If you are positive that a mutual follower is active and you don’t see the green dot, it’s possible there’s a slight glitch or delay. Technology isn’t perfect.

However, the user more than likely has their activity status turned off in Instagram’s settings, as mentioned previously.

Don’t let the missing green dot deter you from sending a message though—most users have notifications turned on. Instagram also offers read receipts, so you’ll know as soon as your message is read.

How to Disable the ‘Active Now’ Feature in Instagram on Android/iOS/iPhone

IfTo enhance privacy on Instagram, consider disabling your activity status on the mobile app. Disabling it is simple, but note that this action also prevents you from viewing others’ activity statuses.

Instructions to turn off the Active Now feature in the Instagram mobile app:

  1. Access your Profile icon located at the bottom-right of the IG app.
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  2. Click on the “hamburger” icon (three horizontal lines) at the top right corner of the screen.
  3. Choose “Settings and privacy.”
  4. Scroll down and select “Messages and story replies.”
  5. Tap on the “Show activity status” option.
  6. Turn off “Show Activity Status.”
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After deactivating your activity status, your friends cannot view your status, and vice versa.


Understanding the implications of Instagram’s ‘Active Now’ feature allows you to weigh its pros and cons and take the necessary steps if it interferes with your online experience. You might also consider how it impacts personal relationships. Over-reliance on technology is a concerning trend in society.

Do you embrace the “Active Now” feature for social engagement, or do you prefer a more private browsing experience? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Picture of Author: Amanda Jones
Author: Amanda Jones

Amanda Jones specializes in content marketing. She holds a Master's degree in Marketing Management from the University of Florida and a Content Manager Professional Certificate from the University of Miami.

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