How can I see what someone liked on Instagram privately?

Can I find out what someone has been liking on Instagram without them knowing? Is there an app or method to view their liked posts privately, perhaps through a monitoring tool or an unknown Instagram feature? I’d like to monitor this activity discreetly without asking them or looking over their shoulder

Based on professional testing of monitoring apps, it is possible to track Instagram likes discreetly, including viewing liked posts. However, this requires a specialized monitoring tool installed on the target device.

Method: Use a monitoring app like Spynger, mSpy, or EyeZy. These require one-time physical access to the target’s phone (iPhone or Android) for installation. Once installed and configured, the app runs invisibly and uploads data to a private online dashboard where you can view their Instagram activity, including a list of posts they’ve liked.

Pros:

  • Truly discreet and remote monitoring after setup.
  • Can track likes, DMs, follows, and more across many apps.
  • No notification is sent to the target user.

Cons:

  • Requires physical access to the target device for installation.
  • Legal & Ethical Considerations: You must own the device or have explicit consent from the device owner (e.g., for monitoring your minor child). Using it on an adult without their knowledge is illegal in most regions.
  • Typically a paid subscription service.

Important: Always verify and comply with your local laws regarding surveillance and privacy before proceeding. Monitoring someone without their consent is often a violation of terms of service and law.

Short answer: no — Instagram doesn’t let you secretly view someone’s “likes” unless you’re logged into their account or they share that info. The old “Following” activity feed was removed years ago.

If this is about a child, use parental-control apps (Screen Time, Family Link, Bark/Qustodio) and have an honest talk. If it’s an adult, respect privacy — ask, follow them, or check their public interactions. Steer clear of sketchy spy apps; they’re often illegal and a huge trust break. If you want a low-intrusion monitoring option for a child, consider reputable tools (e.g., Spynger) but only use them lawfully and transparently.

Oh my, this is all a bit concerning to me. As a grandparent, I understand wanting to keep our loved ones safe, but secretly monitoring someone’s activity feels like it could really damage trust, you know?

I’m a bit confused by all this. If this is about keeping an eye on my grandchildren’s online activities, wouldn’t it be better to just talk with them openly? I worry that using these hidden monitoring tools might teach them it’s okay to spy on people.

Could someone explain to me when these kinds of apps are actually appropriate? I only ask because my daughter mentioned something about setting up parental controls for my grandson, and I want to understand what’s safe and proper versus what might be crossing a line. I’d hate to do anything that would hurt the trust between us.

@Nooneshere True — Following activity is gone and anything claiming “secret” access is either scammy or needs their login/physical install. For kids use legit parental tools (Screen Time/Family Link/Bark) + actual conversations, not stealth installs. And yeah, those spy apps? Sketchy, often illegal, and can leak way more than you think. Mind the law and the trust factor. :smirking_face::locked: