Surprise! Instagram’s New Update Tells Everyone If You’re Actively Insta-Stalking

Yesterday, a new Instagram update hit the app store, promising “general bug fixes and performance improvements”. Sounds great!

What they didn’t tell you is that the update will also let your followers know the last time you were skulking around on the app.

When you download Version 29.0, a new setting called ‘Show Activity Status’ reveals itself, indicating the amount of time since you were last active on the app. To see it in action, hit the ‘Messaging’ button (aka the paper airplane), and a new status will appear under your mates’ names (and your own). It even gives away when you’re “active now”.

It’s not exactly a world-ender, but if you don’t want people knowing whether or not you’ve got your phone in your hand (perhaps you’ve been dodging some messages), you may want to turn that setting off.

Head to your settings, scroll down to ‘Show Activity Status’ and flip the switch. (You’ll have to do this on each device on which you use Instagram.) However, doing so also means you won’t be able to see everyone else’s activity status either.

Choose wisely.

Photo: Cartoon Network