Instagram, a popular social media platform, regularly introduces fresh tools to make using the app better for everyone. These updates make it easier for users to stay in touch with friends and find interesting posts.
One of these features is Active Now. It shows when people you follow are using Instagram. If someone has a green dot next to their name, it means they’re online. But there are times when this feature doesn’t work right. This has left many users feeling puzzled.
Sometimes, users see that their friends are ‘Active Now’ when they’re not really using the app. This can be confusing because it might seem like they’re ignoring messages or posts. But in reality, they might not be on Instagram at all.
This glitch in the Active Now feature has caused frustration for many users. They want to know when their friends are online so they can chat or share posts. But when the feature doesn’t work correctly, it leads to misunderstandings and confusion.
What does ‘Active Now’ signify on Instagram?
Your activity status on Instagram is visible only to those you directly message or if you’ve updated to the newer messaging system.
When you enter Instagram Direct or Messenger, you can view your chats and their timestamps. If you follow someone and they follow you back, you can see if they are online.
“Active now” on Instagram means the other person is currently using the app. They could be looking at posts, chatting, making a Reel, or just have the app open. You’ll see a green dot next to their name and “Active now” status.
You can only see this if they follow you back or have messaged you. Unlike Meta Facebook/Messenger, where you only need to be friends to see if someone’s online. Seeing someone active now means they can also see if you’re active.
Is the Accuracy of ‘Active Now’ Reliable?
Sometimes, your friend may seem inactive even if they just posted something. This happens because the Active Now feature on Instagram can have delays or glitches. So, it’s important to know that the Active Now status might not always be correct.
It’s been said that some people might wait up to ten minutes to see if someone is active. The same is true for when it shows someone was online recently. But that doesn’t always mean it’s correct or they’re not busy all of a sudden.
Instagram might wrongly show friends as “Now Active” because of several reasons, such as technical glitches or errors.
- The user turned off their activity status.
- Your follower’s device is slow because it has too many apps open.
- The other person needs to clear their device’s cache for accurate information.
- Your device has old data stored that affects your follower’s current status.
- Your follower has Instagram running but isn’t using it actively.
- Your follower opened Instagram from a link but closed it quickly, causing a delay in activity updates.
- Your follower recently closed or minimized Instagram, causing a slight delay in status updates.
What happens if you can’t see the green dot?
If you think your friend is online but you don’t see the green dot, there could be a little problem or delay. Technology doesn’t always work perfectly.
But even if the green dot isn’t there, you can still send a message. Lots of people have notifications turned on. On Instagram, it tells you when your message is read, so you’ll know when they’ve seen it.
Sometimes, the green dot might not show up right away. It could be because of slow internet or a glitch in the app. Don’t worry too much if you don’t see it immediately.
Sending a message is still a good idea. Even if they’re not online right that second, they might get your message later. And when they do, Instagram will let you know if they’ve read it.
So, even if the green dot is missing, don’t hesitate to reach out. Your friend might just be a notification away!
How to Turn Off the ‘Active Now’ Feature on Instagram for Android/iOS/iPhone
If you want more privacy on Instagram, you can turn off your activity status on your phone. But remember, this also means you can’t see when others are active. Here’s how to do it in the Instagram app on your phone.
- Tap or click the “Profile” icon found in the bottom-right part of the Instagram app
- Tap the three horizontal lines at the top right.
- Choose “Settings and privacy.”
- Pick “Messages and story replies.”
- Tap “Show activity status.”
- Turn off “Show Activity Status.”
Now that you understand what ‘Active Now’ means on Instagram, you know that turning it off hides your online status from friends, and you can’t see theirs either. Knowing this, you can weigh the advantages and disadvantages.
If it causes trouble, you can disable it. However, doing so could affect relationships negatively. It’s crucial not to depend too heavily on technology, but that’s not likely to change anytime soon. It’s essential to balance our online presence with real-life connections.
