26.07.2026
3 min
287
Instagram is working on a new Read-Only Mode that will let users view other people’s profiles without accidentally liking posts, leaving comments, sending messages, or following accounts. The feature is currently being tested internally, and access may be offered to Instagram Plus subscribers.
The new feature was revealed by app developer and researcher Alessandro Paluzzi, who regularly uncovers Instagram features that have not yet been officially announced. In a post on X, he shared screenshots of the Read-Only Mode currently being developed by Meta. Once enabled, the mode will allow users to view a selected profile while Instagram blocks actions that could reveal their presence: users will not be able to like posts, leave comments, send messages, follow the account, or view its Stories.
Such a mode could, for example, help prevent situations where someone accidentally likes an old post while browsing through a profile. At the same time, it would work only within a specific profile and would automatically turn off once the user leaves it. Judging by Paluzzi’s screenshots, the feature could become one of the benefits included with the paid Instagram Plus subscription. The materials mention a price of around $4 per month. Meta already offers paying users additional personalization and analytics features, and Read-Only Mode could become another perk of the subscription.
However, it is still too early to talk about a launch. An Instagram representative confirmed to Engadget that Read-Only Mode is currently only an internal development and that the company is not testing it with external users at all. This means the feature could change significantly or may never be released on Instagram.
The idea has already sparked controversy because such a mode would effectively make it easier to browse other people’s profiles without being noticed. Critics are concerned that the feature could be used to stalk other users or for other suspicious activity. One X user reacted to the news by saying:
“Not the stalking mode.”
Another pointed out that Meta apparently plans to make the feature paid:
“Why are they making us pay for this?”
This year, Meta launched paid subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. They provide additional options for profile personalization, audience analytics, and special reactions. Instagram Plus subscribers can, among other things, see how many people have rewatched their Stories, create additional audience lists, keep Stories available for longer than 24 hours, and use custom profile fonts and app icons.
Read-Only Mode is not the first Meta feature designed to let users view other people’s content more discreetly. The company previously tested a paid option for anonymously viewing Stories, which would prevent the Story creator from seeing that a particular user had viewed it.
For now, Read-Only Mode remains an internal Instagram experiment, so neither its launch date nor its final form is known. If Meta ultimately decides to release it to users, the company will have to address privacy concerns and the potential for misuse.
