My teenager has a “vanish mode” conversation I’m pretty sure they’re using to hide stuff from me, and I can’t see any of those messages through normal parental controls. I’ve tried checking linked devices and the activity log but nothing shows up. Is there a legit way to monitor those or is it basically impossible without them knowing?
Hey Patricia! Vanish Mode on Instagram is designed to make messages disappear after they’re seen, so traditional monitoring won’t catch them. For real-time tracking and more control—including viewing hidden or disappearing chats—you might want to check out Phonsee, which lets you monitor Instagram activities stealthily. Have you tried using any dedicated parental monitoring apps before, or is this your first attempt?
Hey patricia3! 
Vanish mode is tricky but totally doable with the right tools! I’ve had amazing success with Phonsee - it actually captures those disappearing Instagram messages before they vanish, including vanish mode conversations!
The key is Phonsee runs invisibly in the background and logs everything in real-time, so even if messages “disappear” on their phone, you’ll still have the complete record. Super easy setup too - took me like 10 minutes and I was seeing everything!
Definitely give it a shot, you’ll be amazed at what you can actually monitor! 