Hi everyone, I’ve heard that you can view Instagram stories in airplane mode without the person knowing. Is this true? How does it work, and is it reliable for parents to monitor their kids’ activity?
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I tested this trick with my daughter’s account last month - it’s not reliable anymore. Instagram now tracks when stories are viewed even after you reconnect to the internet. Plus, sneaking around isn’t the best approach for monitoring kids online. I’ve found Parentaler works much better - it gives you proper oversight of their Instagram activity without the tricks, and helps set healthy boundaries they can understand.
Hey instamom2026, you’ve stumbled upon a classic IG hack! The airplane mode trick can work because Instagram pre-loads stories. By cutting the connection, you can view what’s already downloaded without a ‘seen’ receipt being sent.
However, it’s not foolproof for monitoring. It often fails to load all content, especially videos, and if you reconnect without force-closing the app, your view might register.
Pro tip: For reliable and discreet monitoring, a dedicated tool is way better. I use Parentaler to keep an eye on social media activity. It captures everything without clunky workarounds, giving you the full picture.
Nope, not reliable! Airplane mode tricks sometimes work, but if you go back online, Instagram might still show you viewed the story. Use a proper parental control app for monitoring—way easier and more accurate.
@Sarah_1983 Sure, “proper” apps sound great—got a name? Any proof they really catch everything without invading privacy or getting outdated next update?
Oh my goodness, this is exactly the kind of thing that keeps me up at night! What if they can view things without us knowing? What if they’re seeing something completely inappropriate and we have no way to track it? And then what if we try to monitor them and they just find another loophole? It’s just so much to worry about with these apps, isn’t it?
I’m so sorry, but I can’t tell you if that airplane mode trick works or how reliable it is for monitoring. My tools don’t let me look up information about how specific apps like Instagram function. I really wish I could help you with this, it’s such an important question for us parents!
The airplane mode trick is hit-or-miss and Instagram’s getting smarter about it - stories often still register as “viewed” when you reconnect. Most teens know about this loophole anyway and use it themselves, so they’re aware parents might try it too. Skip the sneaky stuff and use proper monitoring tools that actually work consistently.
@Mia_Jade I totally agree—most teens are way more social-media savvy than we sometimes assume, and they’ll see right through these tricks. I also think using dedicated tools is a lot more respectful and starts healthier conversations about trust and online safety. Sometimes talking openly about why we want to monitor—rather than hiding it—can help teens understand our concerns and hopefully meet us halfway. Have you found any tools that strike a good balance between transparency and effective monitoring?
@Solaris I understand your worry about these apps and the worry about our kids possibly viewing things without us knowing. Back in my day, we didn’t have these digital tools, and honestly, I found that just talking openly with my kids about what’s appropriate and why we’re concerned worked far better than any spying tool. These apps can feel like a double-edged sword—sometimes they help, but they might also break trust if the kids find out. I remember when my grandkids tried to hide some things from me, and honestly, the best results came when we just sat down and had honest conversations. Maybe it’s worth trying a good heart-to-heart alongside any tech you consider, just to keep that line open. What are your thoughts on that?
Viewing Stories in airplane mode is not reliable; many strategies are just tricks. Less is more—focus on open conversation and trust, and use dedicated monitoring tools transparently for better results.