How to Hide View Counts on Instagram (And Protect Your Mental Health as a Business Owner)
Ever poured your heart into a post, hit “publish,” and then felt a pit in your stomach watching the views barely trickle in? 🙋♀️
There’s a real mental toll that comes with constantly monitoring social media metrics—especially as a business owner. You're not just posting to flex; you’re posting to build. And when a post doesn’t blow up? It’s way too easy to start questioning everything.
Some people won’t even hit publish out of fear of "low" numbers.
Others will post, get under 200 views, and delete out of embarrassment.
But here’s a little gut-check:
If you walked into a room of 200 people excited to hear you speak, would you apologize for the turnout?
Heck no. You’d light up the room.
Let's ditch the vanity metrics and focus on the real impact you're making. Here’s how to hide your Instagram view counts (and why it might just save your sanity).
Step-by-Step: How to Hide Your Instagram View Counts
Ready to protect your peace? Instagram lets you hide your view counts, so you can focus on connecting—not comparing.
Follow these updated steps:
1. Open your Instagram profile
Tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner.
2. Tap the three lines (hamburger menu) in the top right corner
3. Select “Settings and Activity”
This is where all the important customization tools live now.
4. Scroll down and tap “Business Tools and Controls”
Don’t worry—you don’t have to run ads to adjust these settings!
5. Tap “View Counts on Profile”
6. Toggle ON “Hide View Counts”
Once this is ON, you won't see view counts on your own posts anymore—and neither will anyone else visiting your grid or Reels tab.
Why Hiding View Counts is Good for Your Mental Health
Let’s get real for a second. 📣
Social media comparison is one of the biggest sources of anxiety and burnout for entrepreneurs.
According to McLean Hospital, heavy social media use is directly linked to increased levels of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
When you hide your view counts:
You stop measuring your worth by a number.
You start posting with more freedom and creativity.
You protect your mental health while still using Instagram as a tool for growth.
It’s not about giving up on your goals.
It’s about staying focused on what actually matters—your message, your offers, and your impact.
Perspective Shift: 200 Views is Not a Failure
Let's talk about numbers in real life:
200 views = 200 real people.
If you spoke at an event and 200 people showed up to listen, you'd be thrilled, right?
Don't let a platform make you forget how powerful that is.
A low view count doesn’t mean your post failed. It means 200 people saw, listened, considered, or saved what you shared. And even if just ONE person took action because of it? That's influence, baby.
Tips for Protecting Your Mental Health as a Business Owner
You can't always ditch social media (because #business), but you can create healthier boundaries:
✅ Batch and schedule your content so you’re not constantly online.
✅ Turn off notifications so you’re not yanked back into the app 24/7.
✅ Celebrate real metrics (email signups, inquiries, conversations) instead of vanity ones.
✅ Focus on value over virality — true influence isn't measured in views alone.
Post Anyway. You Matter Anyway.
At the end of the day, hiding view counts isn’t about pretending numbers don’t matter—it’s about reminding yourself that they don’t define you.
Post the dang thing.
Celebrate the people who show up.
Keep building your brand and your business with heart.
Because your voice? It matters whether 2, 20, or 2,000 people hear it. ❤️
Want more support creating content that feels GOOD and drives real results?
✨ Check out my done-for-you content services or grab my free Pinterest Strategy Guide here! ✨