First off, lemme just say, it’s not just you. Everyone’s getting hammered with these fake story viewers. I think, like, partially it’s because InstaStoriesViewer and similar websites exist. Apparently, these let you watch stories anonymously? Which, fine, whatever, maybe you’re checking out your ex’s vacation pics without them knowing (we’ve all been there, no judgement). But the *real* problem is the bots.
See, the internet is full of schemes. And some of these accounts are probably just bots trying to look active. The theory is, they watch a bunch of stories hoping you’ll click on *their* profile and follow them. It’s like digital panhandling, but way more annoying. They are basically hoping to get an insta-boost by being a story-viewing-pest.
And okay, maybe some of them *are* real people being sneaky. You know, the type who lurk in the shadows. There are people saying they think there are third-party apps that let people see who’s watching your stories without being seen. Which, if true, is a privacy nightmare.
Then there are the *other* other accounts… if you catch my drift. The ones that might be a bit… NSFW. Yeah, those exist too. Why they’re watching your stories? Beats me. Maybe they’re just casting a wide net? Maybe they think you’re interested? (Spoiler alert: probably not).
So, what can you DO about it? Well, a few things. First, you could make your account private. That way, only people you approve can see your stuff. This is a HUGE help. I did it, and the weirdos basically disappeared.
You can also block the specific accounts, duh. But honestly, they’ll just create new ones. It’s a whack-a-mole situation.
Honestly, I think Instagram needs to crack down on this. It’s making the whole platform feel less authentic, and more like a playground for bots and weirdos. It’s just… off-putting. Like, I want to share my avocado toast pics with my friends, not some algorithm.
