Instagram has introduced a lot of new features in the last few months We’re definitely still getting to grips with them all. It’s even harder when new icons and emojis are used which each have their own meaning. After quiet mode has gone down a hit, we explain what the moon means on Instagram. We’ll even go into what it means on someone’s story, as well as the emoji.
With so many different social media apps out there with their own icons, knowing what each and every one means feels like an impossible task. To help make your life a little easier, we explain the moon icon that’s featured on Instagram quiet mode. As people often use the emoji to convey a mood as well, we’ll explain that too so you’re covered on all bases.
What Does The Moon Mean On Instagram Quiet Mode?
If you see a small crescent moon icon underneath a profile name, that means that the user has turned on quiet mode.
For those unfamiliar, turning on the new feature means that notifications are paused. Any DMs received will also get an automatic message too. Many use quiet mode at night so that they aren’t distracted by the constant light. Plus, it means being less tempted to scroll instead of sleep.
It’s also a great feature for students who need to crack down and study. We all know that even one notification from Instagram is enough of a distraction.
Quiet mode is available in the US, the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. If you’re curious about it, you can toggle it on and off in the app’s settings. You can even set up a time when it turns on automatically so you don’t even have to think about it.
Not only does the moon mean you’re in Instagram quiet mode, but tapping it will tell them when it’s set to end.

The Moon Has Another Meaning On Stories
Unfortunately, Instagram uses the icon again when you go to make a story just to confuse users anymore.
For lots of people, if you swipe left on your feed or click the plus icon, you’ll see a half-moon icon next to your camera button when going to make a story. This has nothing to do with quiet mode and is actually a feature that lets you take better pictures and videos when you don’t have a lot of light.
This doesn’t appear for everyone in all locations, but if you’ve seen it at least you’ll know now how to differentiate the two moon icons on Instagram.
People Use The Moon Emoji As Well
To make matters even worse, people often use the moon emoji as a simple way of showing how they’re feeling. This can be in either a post or on Instagram stories.
It could mean a number of different things, so one person might be using it differently than another. If you’re close, you can probably tell when meaning they’re trying to convey with the moon emoji.
Firstly, it can be used to show they’re feeling reflective, calm or meditative. However, it can also mean sadness or loneliness. It’s worth checking in with your friend if you think that might be the case.
Of course, someone might just be using it because it’s nighttime, they like the emoji or it fits in with their post.
The moon can mean lots of different things on Instagram. However, now you should understand them all after we’ve covered them!
