Instagram tests a “stalker mode” that lets you browse other people’s profiles without the fear of an accidental like

Instagram’s developers are experimenting with an unusual feature designed to protect users from awkward actions on other people’s profiles — a so-called Read-Only Mode. The first to spot the prototype was well-known mobile app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi, who found references to the option in the platform’s code. The feature is meant to address a long-standing fear shared by millions of the social network’s users: it will let them study other accounts and scroll through posts from years ago with no risk of accidentally revealing their presence with a mistimed like.

Judging by the published interfaces, when Read-Only Mode is on, the app switches to a strict viewing mode. On the selected user’s page, almost every interactive action is temporarily blocked: you can’t like a post by double-tapping the screen, write a comment, send a Direct message, tap the follow button, or even accidentally view Stories. It’s a kind of safety catch for anyone who has opened the page of an ex-partner or a casual acquaintance and is afraid of giving themselves away with one careless flick of a finger.

Paid protection and Meta’s official position

One curious detail is how the feature might be positioned. The code strings mention that Read-Only Mode could be part of the exclusive Instagram Plus lineup — a paid subscription the company periodically tests to expand monetization. The desire to monetize such an in-demand behavior makes sense from a business standpoint, though it may draw skepticism from an audience used to free basic features.

Still, it’s too early to go check the settings in the app. In an official comment to Engadget, an Instagram spokesperson confirmed that the work is purely internal and has not yet gone out even for limited public testing.

The Meta team regularly builds prototypes like this to test product hypotheses, but only a small share of them make it to a final release. Management still has to assess how well the feature fits with the company’s overall approach to user engagement, since public likes and story views remain key drivers of activity on the social network.

Category: Software