At this point, tracking anyone on Instagram is just a testament to your curiosity. You want to see what people are up to, where they’re relaxing, and who they’re meeting – all those perfectly nosy things that are nothing like the sinister plots of dark romances. So, how do you track a person on IG?
You’re in luck! In this article, we’ll explain the reasons (if you need any) and show you how to track someone on Instagram that will turn you into a real Instagram spy.
Why Would Someone Want to Track Another Person on Instagram?
Are you curious about people? Did you remember a friend from 3rd grade and decide you should see how they’re doing now? Are you still bitter over a bad breakup? There are so many reasons to track people on IG, and most of them can be categorized as follows:
Parents Keeping an Eye on Their Kids
If you’ve ever been a teenager, you know how easy it is to get into dumb situations online. Parents aren’t just being nosy – they’re trying to keep their kids from making mistakes that could haunt them forever. Maybe they’re checking if their 14-year-old is DMing some random 25-year-old “fitness coach” or posting way too much personal info. With online creeps, cyberbullies, and TikTok trends that make kids do the dumbest things (remember the Tide Pod challenge?), parents feel better knowing what’s going on.
The Ex Watchlist
We’ve all been there – late at night, scrolling through an ex’s profile, pretending it’s “just out of curiosity”. Maybe they’re dating someone new, posting gym selfies, or suddenly traveling the world when they barely left the couch before. Even if you don’t want them back, it’s hard not to compare. Are they happier? Are they flexing for a reason? And if they’re posting cryptic quotes like, “Some people don’t deserve second chances”, – well, that’s basically an open invitation to decode their entire emotional state.
Checking on a Partner
If your boyfriend suddenly starts liking every single post from some girl who only posts bikini pics, yeah, that’s gonna raise some eyebrows. A lot of people aren’t outright snooping, but they notice patterns – who their partner interacts with, whose stories they always view first, or if they suddenly stop posting couple pics. If someone’s acting sketchy with their phone (turning their screen away, getting defensive about their social media), it’s no surprise their partner might start looking for clues. But if trust is that shaky, Instagram probably isn’t the real issue.
Seeing What Friends (or Frenemies) Are Up To
Have you ever seen a friend’s story and suddenly felt like you missed out on the biggest event of the year? Maybe it’s your coworkers at happy hour without you or your college friends on a trip you didn’t even know was happening. Instagram makes FOMO (fear of missing out) a real thing. Some people even check their friends’ posts just to compare – who’s getting promoted, who’s traveling, who’s suddenly driving a Tesla. Even if you’re happy for them, there’s always that little voice in the back of your head going, “Wow, I need to step it up”.
Avoiding Scams & Fake Profiles
With how many scam accounts pop up daily, people have learned to be skeptical. If a “business opportunity” DM comes from someone with three followers and a profile pic that looks AI-generated, it’s an instant red flag. The same goes for Instagram stores – if a boutique sells $200 sneakers but has no customer reviews and all their comments are “DM for collab”, it’s probably a scam. And then there are the catfish accounts – some people check profiles just to make sure their own pics aren’t being used by a fake account somewhere. Because nothing’s weirder than having a friend message you like, “Hey… why are you selling crypto under the name Jared from Miami?”
Looking Up Old Friends & Almost-Forgotten Crushes
Sometimes, a random memory hits you, and suddenly you’re searching for your middle school best friend or that one summer fling from years ago. Instagram is basically the modern-day yearbook – you can check if they’re still around, what they’re up to, and if they aged well (no shame). But if their last post is from 2017, it’s probably safe to assume they’re either off social media or just not that into posting.
Ways to See Someone’s Activity on Instagram
Now, you’re asking, “Can you track someone on Instagram?” and we say, “This is how to track someone on Instagram with 4 reliable options”:
Instagram Profile Viewer
Why look for something else if you can use the tried-and-true uMobix? This Instagram spy app ensures you stay 100% anonymous on your loved ones’ phones while being able to see exactly what they’re doing via:
- Screenshot monitoring: On Android, uMobix snaps a screenshot of whatever’s happening on Instagram every few seconds. So you get a clear picture of messages, posts, comments – basically everything they’re doing. Those screenshots are stored for 180 days, so you can always go back and check if you need to review anything questionable.
- Real-time monitoring: With updates every 10 seconds, you get live feeds about their Instagram activity. This Instagram profile viewer lets you stay on top of what they’re doing and ensures they’re not getting involved in anything harmful, like bullying or weird DMs.
- Content control and restrictions: On iOS, you can control the account too. With this Instagram spying app, you can block users, limit certain content, or unfollow people who might not be the best influence. It’s about making sure your kid’s social media world is safe and healthy.
- Track DMs, comments, and followers: You can see all of their DMs, comments, and who’s following them. This Instagram spy app gives you a clear look at who they’re talking to and what kind of conversations they’re having. It also shows you exactly who’s in their follower list, so you can spot any potential issues in their circle.
Checking Their Posts & Stories
If you’re trying to figure out what someone’s up to on Instagram by yourself (without resorting to any app), the best place to start is their posts and stories. Instagram won’t straight-up tell you where they are, but people love to overshare – so with a little digging, you can pick up some pretty good clues:
- Location tags & background hints: If their account is public (or they follow you back), check their posts and stories. Some people tag their location, making it super obvious where they are. But even if they don’t, you can still pick up hints – a sign in the background, a unique-looking café, or even a skyline that gives away the city.
- Instagram stories = updates: Stories only last 24 hours (unless they save them), so if you’re trying to stay in the loop, you gotta check often. Some people use location stickers that show exactly where they are. Others tag friends, which can tell you who they’re with – sometimes even more useful than where they are.
- Patterns in their posts: Notice where they keep posting from. If they’re always snapping pics at the same gym, coffee shop, or bar, that’s probably their usual spot. If they’re posting sunsets from a new beach every weekend, they might be traveling. Little details like that can tell you more than you’d think.
- Their friends might spill the tea: If they’re tagged in someone else’s post or leaving comments, check those profiles too. Their friends might be less careful about what they share – maybe they post a group pic with a tagged location, or they mention plans in the comments.
Instagram’s “Activity Status”
The Activity Status feature on Instagram is pretty useful if you’re trying to figure out when someone might be up for a chat, especially in DMs. But just so you know, it’s not like some super high-tech tracking tool – it’s not gonna tell you exactly where someone is or what they’re up to. It just gives you a rough idea of when they were last on the app.
If they’ve got Activity Status turned on, you’ll see when they were last active. There’ll be a little indicator next to their profile picture in DMs or on their profile page. So, if you message someone, you can check their status right next to their name. You’ll also see it when you visit their profile – unless they’ve decided to turn it off. You’ll see things like:
- “Active now”: They’re on Instagram at that moment.
- “Active X minutes ago”: They were on just a few minutes ago (e.g., 10 minutes ago).
- “Active today”: They’ve been on at some point today.
- “Active X hours ago”: They were on a few hours ago but not today.
Tagged Locations & Check-ins
If someone tags their location all the time in their posts or stories, you can start noticing where they regularly go – like their go-to cafés, gyms, or those chill hangout spots they love. Of course, they could skip tagging their location altogether or just use broad spots like “New York” or “LA”, which makes it harder to pinpoint exactly where they are:
- Tagged locations in posts: You can tag a place in your post by picking it from Instagram’s location list or adding your own custom spot. Once you tag it, people can click the location to see a map and explore other posts from that same place.
- Tagged locations in stories: You can also throw a location sticker into your stories. This shows where you are (or where you’ve been), but since stories vanish after 24 hours (unless saved to Highlights), they’re more short-lived. If someone tags their spots a lot in stories, you’ll start to get a pretty good idea of where they hang out.
Verdict
If you want to keep track of someone’s Instagram activity, you can always check their posts and stories and see if their Activity Status is on. But if you’re really trying to keep an eye on things, uMobix is your best bet. This Instagram spying app updates you in real time and lets you dig into their messages, posts, and interactions – all while staying under the radar.
