Useful hidden features on Instagram, X and Facebook

If you’re one Facebook argument away from setting your social media accounts on fire, I don’t blame you. Before you sign out for good, I have some hidden features that will make using your social media accounts suck. little less.

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Stop video autoplay

Facebook: Maybe you want to get around work undetected or simply prefer the sound of silence. On desktop, disable video autoplay on Settings and privacy > Settings > Videos. On mobile, go to Settings and privacy > Settings > preferences > Media.
X: On the desktop, click Further > Settings and privacy > Accessibility, visualization and languages > Data usage. On mobile, tap your profile photo to search Settings and privacy.

You can’t stop autoplay on Instagram, which is a shame, unless it’s one of my videos that appears.

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I love and list it

X: Organize people on public or private lists without following them. Maybe make a list of cooking tips and a list of gadget news, whatever works for you. Easy.
instagram: Sort your saved posts in Collections – just like you do on Pinterest. Create a new collection by tapping and holding the marker icon below a post and then tap the + (Plus sign). Enter a name, like “Recipes,” and you’re done! View your collections by tapping the three lines at the top right of your profile, then Saved.

Set your DMs

instagram– Pin up to three chats to the top of your list for quick access. Simply press and hold a conversation, then select Pin. No more scrolling to find your best friends!
Delivery courier: You can set a individual message in a chat. Super useful for remembering addresses or shared recipes! From a chat, tap and hold the message you want to pin and tap Pin. To view pinned messages in a chat, tap View pins.

The icons for X (then Twitter), Facebook and WhatsApp are seen on an iPhone. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

Say ‘shhhh’

If you have a friend who posts turbo and you want to see a little less on Facebook or Instagram, tap the three points in one of your posts and choose Hide. You’ll see their posts a little less frequently, without the drama of unfollowing them. You can also choose to Mute your friend completely on the next screen.

Shake to inform

Is something not working correctly on Instagram? Don’t throw your phone across the room: shake it! This opens the option to report a technical error. Very smart. For your information, this it’s not the place to report harassers or abuse. To do that, tap the three points next to a post or username.

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divide your life

Facebook finally realized that we are not the same people to our friends, family, and colleagues. You can set up multiple profiles linked to your Facebook account. On the web version, click your profile photo, then click Create a new profile. Use it for good, not for trolling.

The knock is back

Technically, it’s always been there, but Facebook users are rediscovering “nudge.” What does it mean? Whatever you want, from flirting to just being funny. Go to your poke page I guess so people know you’re there.

Bonus: If you want to get away, try this

Ignoring apps that are literally built to grab your attention is difficult. There are settings built into your phone to make it easier. That is, application time limits.

The concept is simple: set an amount of time you can spend on an app, and once you press it, you’re locked out. You can get around the limit, but remember that you set it for a reason in the first place.

The Instagram logo is seen on a smartphone. Instagram allows users to shake their device to report “bugs” or cases where the app is not working properly. (Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Do you use an iPhone?

Before you begin, enable Screen Time on your device: in Settings, tap Screen Time. Select Turn on screen time and then Continue.

Here’s how to set specific time limits for apps:

Gonna Settings > Screen time and turn in Screen time.
Tap Application limits > Add limit.
Select as many categories as you want or choose All apps and categories. To select individual apps, tap a category and then search for the app.
Tap Next and set the time limit. You can set an amount of time for each day by tapping Customize days.
Tap Add when you’re done.

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How to set time limits on Android apps

Android Digital Wellbeing works in a similar way. Keep in mind that different manufacturers place these settings in different places, so use these steps as a starting point.