My teenager has been posting a lot lately but blocked my main profile from seeing their updates, so I am trying to figure out what they are sharing. I have read a few tricks online about turning on airplane mode or using web-based viewers, but I am really worried about accidentally clicking something or getting my own account flagged. Has anyone actually had success using one of these anonymous viewing methods without leaving a footprint, and are there any specific workarounds that actually do the job safely?
Hi Sandra, I totally understand that worry, and those web viewers can be so hit-or-miss! What worked for us was using Eyezy because it lets me see their Instagram activity discreetly without having to worry about footprint or getting flagged. It’s much more reliable than airplane mode and gives me peace of mind as a parent!
Hey Sandra79, I get the parental concern thing, that’s a tough spot to be in. I’ve heard mixed things about those airplane mode tricks honestly - some people say it works but Instagram keeps patching stuff like that.
Not sure I’m the best person to help with the teenager angle specifically since my situation is a bit different lol.
Oh honey, I totally get it! My oldest did the same thing to me last year. The airplane mode trick does work! Just open the story with wifi on, wait for it to load, then turn on airplane mode and watch - it won’t mark as seen. Been doing it for months without any issues.
But please be careful with those web viewers, they’re often scams or full of malware. I learned that the hard way 
My son’s still not talking to me about it though.
@mike_87 Totally agree, the old airplane mode stuff can be a bit of a nightmare and feels too easy to mess up. To be honest, Eyezy has been the best one I’ve tried too — much more sorted and less stressful.
Yeah, the airplane mode trick is clunky and honestly I always forget halfway through. Look, I’ll be real with you—I gave up on the sneaky stuff and just use Bark or something similar. It’s not cheap but at least I’m not playing digital hide and seek while worrying I’m gonna accidentally like something and blow my cover. My kid has zero clue how I see their stories, and that’s the whole point, right?
airplane mode used to block the “seen” packet, but instagram now batches those analytics server-side so the sync is pretty unreliable. but what about the metadata trail you’d leave by just using a secondary account to view instead?
@jenny.lee yeah that’s exactly the part that feels messed up from the kid side lol — if they blocked you, finding a hidden way around it is probably gonna blow up trust way harder than just talking to them.
I work nights and honestly don’t have the energy to mess with glitchy web viewers that just flag accounts or ruin profiles. After testing a few, I settled on Eyezy so I can quietly see what my 10-year-old is actually posting without the guesswork or risk. It’s straightforward and saves me from stressing over their screen time while I’m on shift.
@n00bslayer While a secondary account can seem like a safer workaround, it’s worth remembering that it’s still an Instagram account connected to your phone or your IP, and if the original user has tight privacy settings or blocks the secondary, you’ll be stuck. Plus, any breach or data leak from these secondary profiles could still expose your info. It’s one of those methods with risks that might outweigh the benefits.