Are you wondering what does “Active Today” means on Instagram?

If yes, you’re in the right place.

If you have noticed the “Active Today” status whenever you open specific chats on Instagram, worry not.

It’s a common Instagram feature that every user can see.

But if you are new to the Instagram space or if you don’t use the platform too often, you might not understand the meaning of “Active Today” status.

However, if you want to use the platform efficiently without any confusion, it’s an essential status type you should understand.

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To help you out, in this guide, we will discuss about the meaning of “Active Today” status on Instagram, talk about some other Instagram chat statuses, and see how you can turn off the “Active Today” status for your profile.

So, without wasting any further time, let’s dive right in.

What Does “Active Today” Mean on Instagram?

So let’s first understand what does “Active Today” actually means on Instagram.

“Active Today” on Instagram is basically a real-time status that indicates the last time the user has been active on the platform.

In other words, if you see “Active Today” status whenever you’re opening up someone’s chat, it means the other person has not been online in the last 8 to 24 hours at max.

This feature adds a layer of transparency between the users so that they can see that the other person is away from their device and might not reply immediately.

However, there are a few scenarios in which you won’t be able to see the “Active Today” or any activity status of the other person:

  • If you have not exchanged any messages with the other user recently, you won’t be able to see this status.
  • If you have sent a message, but the other person has not responded back to you, you won’t be able to see the “Active Today” status.
  • If they have turned off their “Activity Status” feature, you won’t be able to see their recent activity as well.

Apart from that, you can always see the “Active Today” or other Instagram activity status on your Instagram DMs even if the other person has not followed you back but you both have exchanged messages.

What is The Difference Between Active Today And Active Now

The simple difference between “Active Today” and “Active Now” status on Instagram DM (direct message) is that “Active Now” means the person is currently online and using the platform.

On the flip side, “Active Today” means the person has not been active in the last 8 to 24 hours.

The “Active Today” status also disappears if a user has not been active for more than 24 hours.

While both words may sound similar, the meanings of these Instagram statuses are entirely opposite.

Different Instagram Activity Status

On Instagram, you may notice multiple activity statuses that signify the latest activity of the users.

If you are not familiar with the activity statuses of Instagram DMs yet, here are the meanings of different Instagram activity statuses you must know:

  • Active Today: This activity status means the person has not been active in the last 8 – 24 hours.
  • Active Now: It means the user is currently active on the platform. It’s the best time to reach out to someone when they’re online.
  • Typing: This status indicates the user is currently typing something within the chat.
  • Active Yesterday: It means the user was last online between 24 to 48 hours.
  • In The Chat: The user is in the chat section and probably reading your message.
  • Active “X” hours or minutes ago means the user was last active on the platform in that specified time.

These are some of the different types of Instagram activity statuses you should know to use the platform efficiently without any confusion.

Why Can’t I See The “Active Today” Status For Some Users on Instagram?

If you’re not seeing the “Active Today” Status for some users, there might be various reasons for that.

Some of the most common reasons are:

  • The user has disabled the activity status option for their profile.
  • Your internet connection is slow. 
  • Your Instagram app is outdated and filled with bugs.
  • Instagram is facing some technical glitches.

If the user has disabled their activity status option or if Instagram is currently going through some technical glitch, you can’t do anything about that.

But if the issue is related to your internet connection, you can try switching to a different internet connection and see if it’s now working fine for you.

Also, make sure your Instagram app is constantly updated to the latest version so that you won’t have to face any of these issues in the future.

How to Turn Off Activity Status on Instagram

If you don’t wish to show your activity status on Instagram, you can always turn it off.

And it takes less than a minute to do that.

Follow the steps below to turn off your activity status on Instagram:

Step 1. Log in to your Instagram and head over to the settings and privacy section.

Instagram settings and privacy

Step 2. Now, scroll down and click on “Messages and story replies.”

Instagram settings

Step 3. Then, click on “Show activity status.”

Instagram activity status

Step 4. Here, click on both of the toggle buttons to turn off your activity status on Instagram temporarily.

Turn off active today status on Instagram

Remember, you can always turn on the activity status back for your account whenever you want to.

It’s always the best option to turn off the activity status if you don’t want the world to know when you’re active on the platform.

And it’s a heavenly feature for all the introverts.

How Accurate is Instagram’s “Active Today” Status?

The “Active Today” and other statuses on Instagram are pretty accurate and mostly will show you the correct answer.

However, there is a time delay between the time you log off and when it updates your activity status. The time delay is usually for a few minutes only.

Can Instagram Show Online When You Are Not?

Generally, Instagram won’t show you are online when you’re actually offline.

But technically, if Instagram continues to run in the background and you forget to close the app, it may lead to showing the activity status as “Active Now.”

Conclusion

We hope now you clearly understand what “Active Today” means on Instagram.

To summarize, “Active Today” means the user has not been online in the last 8 – 24 hours.

It’s one of the many activity status signals that Instagram uses to help the Instagram messaging ecosystem.

This Activity Status feature helps you understand when you should reach out to someone and when you should not.

So if you want to message someone but it’s showing the “Active Today” status, you should probably wait until the person becomes online.

Jenna Marwood
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Author

Jenna Marwood, a UC Berkeley alumna, is a celebrated author known for her insightful analysis of social media trends đŸ“± and their societal impact. Her bestselling book, "Digital Echoes," and her engaging writing style make her a prominent voice in the world of online communication 🌐.