My teen swears they haven’t opened Instagram all day, but I keep seeing their status as “active” or “active now.” Could that happen from background refresh, notifications, or another device logged in, and how can I tell what’s triggering it?
Yes, Instagram can show someone as “active” if:
- The app is open in the background (even if not being used)
- Notifications are tapped or interacted with
- The account is logged in on another device (phone, tablet, web)
- Sometimes, background refresh can trigger activity status
To see exactly what’s happening, use a monitoring tool like mSpy for detailed logs of app usage, device activity, and login sessions. It’s reliable, works on most devices, and gives you clear insights—perfect for transparent parental monitoring.