You Can Make Instagram Less Fun If You Want.
Logging out of Instagram is n’t easy – and you probably won’t even want to quit the app entirely . After all, memes, updates and videos are important to you. But many of us could spend less time on Instagram.
If you feel like Instagram usage is spiraling out of control (or you just want to get back to a smarter level a bit), here are a few tricks you can try.
Use the Threads app to avoid the Instagram feed swirl
The real secret to spending less time on Instagram is using an app separate from Instagram. The Threads app (on Android and iPhone ) was designed to help you stay connected with your close friends list, but it has grown into something more.
You can think of Threads as an Instagram DM app. You will have access to messages from all of your close friends and to your DM list, as well as any messages that people share via DM. So you still have your meme and you can accept it too.
You can also view stories from individual profiles, but nothing more. The whole idea is to register quickly and then exit the game immediately.
Set time limits and stick to them
Setting a timer can help you spend less time on Instagram, and you can approach this method in two ways. You can let Instagram alert you when you’ve used up your daily allowance, or you can use your device’s screen time feature to block Instagram after your time is up.
To set an alert for yourself, go to your profile in the Instagram app, press the Menu button and select Actions . In the Time section, use the Set Daily Reminder option to set a reminder at a time.
How to actually block Instagram after a certain amount of time will depend on the type of smartphone you have. If you’re an iPhone user, set up Timed Screen Time for Instagram. If you’re using Android, try the digital wellbeing feature. (If your Android smartphone does not have a digital wellbeing feature, use the ActionDash app to play it.)
Use the web app to make your work even easier
One way to cut down on your time on Instagram is to put up some hurdles, and the mobile Instagram website is a pretty good obstacle. The site is not the most stable and lacks some features, especially when it comes to editing stories.
On the other hand, you get access to all the basic functionality of the web view. You can read all your posts and access your entire feed. But what’s great is that the videos don’t play automatically, and there’s no Reels section that you can get lost in for an hour. Also, opening the Instagram website in a browser is an extra (annoying) step, and it’s an additional hurdle.
Limit Instagram usage by your computer
Another trick that allows you to spend less time on Instagram without completely logging out is device separation . In other words, just don’t use Instagram on your smartphone or tablet, but restrict use to only your computer (using the Instagram website ).
If you limit your use in this way, you’re forcing them to use Instagram on purpose, which greatly reduces the likelihood of you scrolling through your timeline for hours when you’re too lazy to get off the couch.
Don’t let notifications suck you in
Instagram is really good at grabbing your attention, especially with notifications. It could be something as simple as a friend posting a new story, posting someone live, or having your new post get a huge amount of likes. You decide to click on the notification to see the content when you have a minute, and then spend more time than expected scrolling through the feed. So what can you do about it? Disable notifications completely.
Go to Settings > Notifications to customize your notifications. You can pause notifications for a while, or customize notifications for DMs, new followers, posts, stories, comments, and more (less is more).