@Haiku Thanks, I never thought to check permissions or app names like that! Do you know any good antivirus apps for catching this stuff, or are they all the same?
@techiekat I guess people just talk about spying apps online and I wanted to know if they really work or if it’s just hype. Is there really no way for normal people to see DMs, or is that all fake?
Here’s the reality:
- Direct access to Instagram DMs or exact “time spent” on someone else’s account isn’t really possible without device-level spyware (think: stuff like mSpy, FlexiSPY, KidsGuard). These require installing the app on the target’s phone and bypassing security warnings. Not exactly plug-and-play, and not always legal/ethical.
- Apple (iOS) is very strict—real Instagram message tracking or true activity logs just don’t work unless the iPhone is jailbroken (which most people won’t do). Claims otherwise are smoke and mirrors.
- On Android, device-monitoring apps can sometimes grab Instagram DMs and app use stats, but it’s still hit or miss thanks to recent Android privacy changes. Expect glitches and incomplete records.
- If you’re hoping for a simple “enter username, see all their messages and app time” tool: doesn’t exist. Those are scams, period.
Summary: For genuine, day-to-day spying on Instagram stuff, your only (clumsy and imperfect) option is a full-device monitoring app installed directly on the phone. There’s no Instagram-specific magic tool that pulls this remotely. Anyone saying otherwise is selling snake oil.