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Instagram won't let you lurk anymore without signing in

Now there's a limit on how much scrolling you can do without being logged in.

Erin Carson Former Senior Writer
Erin Carson covered internet culture, online dating and the weird ways tech and science are changing your life.
Expertise Erin has been a tech reporter for almost 10 years. Her reporting has taken her from the Johnson Space Center to San Diego Comic-Con's famous Hall H. Credentials
  • She has a master's degree in journalism from Syracuse University.
Erin Carson
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Instagram is limiting your lurking.

Graphic by Pixabay/Illustration by CNET

Your days of lurking on Instagram without being logged in seem to be over. It's no longer possible to dig into a public Instagram account unless you're signed into your own. 

It's not clear exactly when the change went into effect, but Mashable caught it and reported Wednesday that a Facebook spokesperson confirmed it

Instagram didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

We found that it was possible to scroll through a few rows of photos before being prompted to sign in, making it difficult to do a deep dive on anyone's account. 

The move is in line with Instagram's decision earlier in October to get rid of the Following tab, which gave folks a window into the posts and accounts their friends were engaging with.

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