Frequently asked questions

Why Plainview?

Social media has become less social. Instagram began as a way to connect and keep up with people we care about, and we believe it's still an incredible tool for doing that. However, in recent years it has shifted more into a platform that puts entertainment first and connection second: content we didn't subscribe to (Reels, Explore, and Suggested Posts) is pushed to the front, while content from our friends is suppressed (Posts hidden in an algorithmic feed, Stories buried in a thin horizontal scroll tray). The time cost of using Instagram for connection has become too high, and many of us end up deleting the app entirely.

Enter Plainview. Plainview is not just another Reels blocker or screen-time manager. It is an opinionated tool for intentionally distilling social connection from Instagram while limiting the app's unintentional cost on our time and attention. It achieves this by making Feed chronological and predictable, disabling autoplay, and upgrading Stories browsing into a first-class experience. Ads are permitted (Instagram needs them to offer its services to us for free). All other content from accounts you don't follow is removed, unless a friend sends it to you or you go looking for it yourself. What results is a way for us to stay connected with friends without feeling like we need to quit Instagram. Welcome to Plainview!

Do I need a new Instagram account?

No. You log in with the account you already have, on Instagram's own login page. Nothing about your account changes: your follows, messages, and posts stay exactly as they are.

Is my password safe?

Yes. Inside Plainview you log into instagram.com, exactly as you would in Chrome or Safari. Your credentials go directly to Instagram and nowhere else. Plainview has no servers, no account system of its own, and collects no data. Our privacy policy is short for that reason.

Is Plainview affiliated with Instagram?

No. Plainview is an independent app with no connection to Instagram or Meta. It shows you instagram.com under your own login and applies display filters locally, on your device. Nothing is scraped, stored, or routed through anyone else's servers.

What are the current limitations?

Notifications. Plainview doesn't currently deliver notifications: it presents Instagram's website, and iOS doesn't allow a website to send notifications through an app that embeds it. If notifications matter to you, the setup below keeps them flowing through the native app, on your schedule instead of Instagram's.

Posting. Plainview's posting functionality is currently limited to the tools offered by Instagram's website, which are more basic than those in the native app (e.g. limited editing, no music, etc.). If you post often, use the setup below to maintain controlled access to the native app alongside Plainview.

Plainview: Use it as your everyday door to Instagram.

Native Instagram app: Keep it installed for the things that only it does (notifications, and full-featured posting), but lock it behind deliberate speed bumps:

  1. Remove it from your home screen: long-press the app → Remove App → Remove from Home Screen.
  2. Block it with a screen-time app like Opal, or Apple's built-in Screen Time, on a schedule you choose.

With this approach, the native app (and its associated distractions) is accessible only when you need it, and batched notifications arrive when your schedule allows them.

Can I turn Reels back on?

No. Plainview is an opinionated tool and it includes no toggles to re-enable what it exists to remove. The native app is always there if you want the full firehose.

What does it cost?

Plainview is free during early access.

Is Plainview on Android?

Not yet. Plainview is currently only available on iOS.