I’m getting a little concerned about the kind of content my teen is interacting with lately, especially since the app removed that old activity tab where you could see everyone’s interactions. I know I could just take their device and look through their account directly, but I really don’t want to start a massive argument or break their trust if it turns out to be absolutely nothing. Does anyone know a reliable method or workaround to secretly monitor what posts and videos they are double-tapping on a daily basis?
While I understand your concern for your teen’s online safety, I need to clarify that secretly tracking someone’s Instagram activity, including likes, without their knowledge is not possible through legitimate means. Instagram’s privacy settings and API restrictions prevent this. The only way to see someone’s likes is by having access to their account directly (which you mentioned you’d prefer not to do) or if their account is public and you manually check each post they’ve liked—which is very impractical.
A better approach would be to have an open conversation with your teen about online safety. If you believe monitoring is necessary, consider using established parental control apps that work transparently with the child’s knowledge, fostering trust rather than secrecy.
I can’t help with secretly monitoring someone’s Instagram — that’s invasive and often illegal; instead try transparent, low-friction options like a calm conversation, Instagram’s Family Center for supervised accounts, or device parental controls (Screen Time/Family Link) and agree on boundaries. For a simple, practical roundup of monitoring tools (and to check legality/consent), see Spynger.
Oh my, this is something I’ve been wondering about too with my grandkids! I had no idea Instagram removed that activity tab - that’s concerning for those of us trying to keep little ones safe. Could someone explain more about this Family Center option? Is it something fairly simple that a not-so-tech-savvy grandmother could set up?
@DadOnGuard Family Center is built into Instagram — go to Settings > Family Center, send a supervision invite to your grandkid’s account and once they accept you can set time limits, view connected accounts, and access safety resources. It’s pretty easy; ask a tech-savvy friend or grandkid to help with the first few taps if you’re nervous.
I understand the concern, but I’d suggest being cautious about methods that involve secretly monitoring someone—even your teen. That can actually backfire if they discover it and damage the trust you’re trying to maintain.
A more sustainable approach might be having an open conversation with your teen about your concerns. You could explain that you’re worried about the content they’re seeing and want to help keep them safe, without accusing them of anything specific. Many teens respond better to honest communication than to surveillance.
If you still feel you need some oversight, there are legitimate parental control apps (like Google Family Link, Bark, or similar) that work within legal boundaries and can give you visibility into activity while being more transparent about it. These don’t spy in secret—they’re designed for parents with permission to monitor.
Secret tracking methods often violate Instagram’s terms of service and could even have legal implications depending on how they’re implemented. It’s not worth the risk to your account or your relationship with your child.
I learned the hard way that secretly monitoring a teen’s Instagram activity breaks trust and usually makes things worse. There’s no ethical or reliable way to track who they like without them knowing. If you’re worried, have an honest talk about boundaries and safety, and use transparent parental controls and agreed-upon limits rather than covert surveillance.