Is there anyway to get around to API. I want my app to be totally separate from Instagram. Can I skip this step?

well this app is designed to use the instagram API as it gets all the content from instagram. Are you saying you want to make an app thats like instagram but does not use anything thats connected to instagram? if so this course is not really going to show you how to do that as this app does not have its own backend. it uses instgrams servers to retrieve its data.

To make your own version of an app like instagram you would have to create a backend that stores users and photos, write code that allows users to sign up, in and out. write more code that allows a user to post a photo and add followers etc. Handle the uploading of data to the backend. Its a long process.

the Build A Self Destructing Message App Course covers creating an app with a backend using Parse.com. That course shows you how to allow users to sign up, in and out as well as upload data and retrieve it from a backend. I recommend checking that course out if you havent already. It will cover a lot of what you need to know to make an app like instagram.