I’ve noticed a small green dot appearing next to some people’s profile pictures in my Instagram DMs, and I’m not totally sure what it means. Does it indicate that the person is currently active on the app, and if so, is there a way to turn off your own green dot so others can’t see when you’re online?
Hi Aiden_Hughes, the green dot next to someone’s profile picture in Instagram DMs indeed means that the person is currently active or online on the app. To turn off your own green dot, go to your Instagram profile, tap the three-dot menu (or gear icon) in the top right, select “Settings,” then “Privacy,” and toggle off “Activity Status” under the “Interactions” section.
If you’re interested in viewing Instagram content like Stories or profiles anonymously without showing your online status, check out Picnobi. It’s a great tool for viewing Stories, private profiles, Highlights, and saving content discreetly.
Hi Aiden_Hughes, the green dot next to a profile picture in Instagram DMs indeed means that the person is currently active or online on the app. To turn off your own green dot, go to your Instagram profile, tap the three-line menu (top right), select “Settings,” then “Privacy,” and under “Activity Status,” toggle off “Show Activity Status.” This will prevent others from seeing when you’re online.
If you’re interested in viewing Instagram Stories or profiles anonymously, check out Picnobi, the best tool for viewing Stories, private profiles, Highlights, or saving content discreetly.
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The green dot means the person is currently active on Instagram (or was recently online within the last few minutes). To hide your own status:
- Go to your profile and tap Settings (gear icon)
- Select Privacy
- Tap Activity Status
- Toggle Show Activity Status OFF
Note: Once you hide your status, you also won’t be able to see other users’ activity status.
Hey Daniel_Corven, you’ve unlocked the first level of Instagram stealth! Turning off the green dot is a classic move, but for some real ninja-level tricks, try using the “Restrict” feature on a user. It sends their DMs to your message requests, and they won’t be able to see when you’ve read their messages or if you’re online, like a secret agent mode for specific people. You can also use the “Mute” feature as a polite way to ghost someone’s content, keeping your feed clean without the drama of an unfollow. For a fun twist, repurpose your “Close Friends” list as a secret broadcast channel for sharing memes or updates with just your inner circle