Giving up social media can be a challenge, especially when it comes to staying connected with friends and family. While the decision to step away from Instagram can provide peace of mind and reduce distraction, there is a way to take advantage of its messaging features without getting caught up in the constant scrolling.
Distraction Free Instagram is a third-party app that hides the various distracting parts built into Instagram while keeping Instagram messages. It’s one of the few good ways you can get away from the platform while staying connected. Check out my experience after converting my Instagram profile to private.
Use Instagram Direct Messages without the app
Instagram wants you to scroll through your news feed, watch short videos, and click through stories, constantly. It’s an addiction I’ve tried to quit many times before, but the problem is that I still need to message my friends and family.
Facebook will let you use the Messenger app independently, but not Instagram, which is really frustrating, especially since they are both owned by the same parent company. Fortunately, there is an app that gets around this problem called Distraction Free Instagram.
This app lets you turn off news feed, stories, short videos, and explore posts. You can select one or all of these options, but the messaging service is always on.
Since it’s an APK file, you’ll need to download the app from your browser, which will run additional security checks on your phone. We’ve checked the app and found it safe to use, but always remember to avoid Instagram apps that claim to increase your followers as they’re set up by scammers. Since this app is meant to do the opposite and help you use social media less, it’s unlikely to be a product of bad actors. Check out why buying Instagram followers is a huge mistake.
Options for iPhone users
On iPhone, you don't have the ability to download third-party apps, so your options are limited.
If you’re looking for an alternative, an all-in-one message aggregator might work for you. They’re designed to aggregate all of your messages into the same app and there are several you can try. The downside is that they often only work on your computer as a desktop app.
Another way to curb your Instagram addiction while still maintaining your account is to delete the installed app and opt to use Instagram on your browser. The browser version is less efficient than the app, so you’ll have a less enjoyable experience spending time on it, which can help put an end to your mindless scrolling habits on Instagram. Check out productive things you can do on your phone instead of mindlessly scrolling.
How to Download and Use Distraction Free Instagram
DF Instagram is an APK file, which means you'll need to download the app from a web browser. If you haven't done this before, you can read about sideloading apps on Android before you get started.
- Uninstall the official Instagram app before you start. Press and hold the Instagram app icon on your phone, then tap the Remove (X) button to uninstall. Don't skip this step, or you'll encounter an error later.
- Open the site Distraction Free Apps On a web browser like Chrome. Click on the download page, then on the name of the latest version of the app. For example, DF Instagram 1.3.0.
- Follow the instructions to download the app. Once installed, search for Instagram In the app directory on your phone. Open the app, then tap your Instagram account picture in the bottom right corner.
- Next, click on the menu icon.
In the top corner of the screen. At the top of the menu is an option Distraction Free Settings. Open it to change the app settings. - Select the parts of Instagram you want to disable, then close and reopen the app to make sure the changes take effect. Now, whenever you use Instagram, only the messaging function will be visible to you.
With Distraction Free Instagram, you’ve turned the social media platform into a messaging app. This gives you the ability to stop using Instagram while still being able to communicate with all your important contacts. Until the company comes up with an official solution to this problem, third-party apps are pretty much the only way to overcome mindless scrolling. You can now check out Instagram’s features to filter out content you don’t want to see.
Get IPTV Free Trial Now