If you’re like, you ended up deleting the TikTok app a while ago because it was too addicting. The algorithm is really great at getting you hooked — and wasting hours of your day.
After deleting it from my phone, I was doing well in decreasing my screen time. It was also becoming entangled with my OCD, so getting rid of it was very necessary.
But then Instagram Reels came along. And while I enjoy the Instagram app generally, as I don’t find it (minus Reels) very addicting, Instagram Reels introduced the same short, addicting, and easily scrollable content I had tried to get away from.
Does Instagram allow you to hide reels on the app?
The unfortunate answer is no. You can’t hide Reels on the app itself. If you want to have the app on your phone you’ll need to summon the willpower to not click on reels and get sucked into the void. This is near impossible because Instagram spends a lot of money to get you hooked on the app.
How can you get rid of Reels?
The only way I’ve found to get rid of Instagram Reels is to delete the app off my phone and to only use Instagram via my web browser. It’s a less appealing way to use Instagram — and fairly limited on your phone, as Instagram really really wants you to download the app. However, it’s saved me so much time and mental anguish to not have the app on my phone anymore.
It would be great if Instagram would allow you to hide Reels, but there is no incentive for them to do so. Reels keeps users on the app and increases overall usage time. It’s here to stay, but you can limit your exposure to it.