How To See Who Someone Recently Followed On Instagram
Basic steps for how to see who someone recently followed on Instagram:
Open the Instagram application on your device.
Log into your IG account.
Enter the Instagram username you want to visit on the Search tab.
Click on their profile from the results list, then go to their Following tab.
The profiles they recently followed might appear at the top of their list. Scroll through their following list for a full view.
Exploring the most appropriate Instagram settings to have an accurate list of accounts someone recently followed on the platform can be time-consuming. While numerous guides and instructions are available, not all methods may be helpful and applicable to all users. So, in this blog, we'll go over all the options for how to see who someone recently followed on Instagram, both with and without using third-party applications.
Instagram Following List Order
Have you already tried the Instagram setting "sort Instagram followers by most recent" on other users' profiles, but it just won't work? The reason might be that Instagram doesn't actually have a setting for this, or it may have been removed due to updates and adjustments on the app. The bottom line is that there is no definite way for you to sort other users' following lists by any means with the current app update—you can only do this on your profile, and here's how it's done:
Open Instagram on your device.
Click on your account profile icon.
Tap on the Following option.
Look for the Sorted by Default section and click the up and down arrow sign.
Change the setting, and select Date followed: Latest to sort by most to least recent.
There are still more ways for you to determine the latest profiles followed by someone without having to borrow their accounts to do the sorting method above, or without having to sneak on their phones if you're trying to do this secretly ;)
How does Instagram sort and display the following lists of its users? Instagram randomizes the order for every user's following list, so you'll never know which profiles were followed when. The list may also differ depending on the device. It's nearly impossible to see which are the newly-followed accounts from someone's following list, especially if they have over 500 followers.
Techniques to See Who Someone Recently Followed On Instagram
To get the most accurate result to see who someone recently followed on Instagram, use your browser (or enable desktop view on your mobile browser). Other users' newly-followed profiles may appear at the top of their list. You may also use your Instagram notifications to confirm if your search is correct.
How To See Who Someone Recently Followed On Instagram Through IG Notifications (for Android/ iOS devices)
Open the Instagram application on your device.
Go to your Instagram account Notifications. Check for the updates that say one or two of your mutual connections just followed someone (user X).
Click on the name of your Instagram mutual connection and locate the name of user X from their following list. If you see the name of user X around the top of their list, you can confirm you are viewing them from the most recent down to the oldest followed accounts.
Verify your search by opening your phone's browser. Simply open instagram.com, enable Desktop Site or view on the settings, log in to your account, and follow the same procedures above. Use the same method on your computer to check the results. Another technique you can also try is using Instagram's Supervision feature.
Use Instagram Supervision to See Who Someone Recently Followed On Instagram
Log in to Instagram and tap on your profile icon.
Click the three stacked menu lines (A.K.A. the Hamburger button) at the corner of your screen.
Go to the Supervision section. Then, choose your settings and add the account you want to supervise.
You can only use Instagram's Supervision feature to monitor a teen's account (users aged 13 to 17 years old). This tool will allow you to closely monitor another user's Instagram activities, including who they connect with and follow. If you're a parent who wants to manage your child's Instagram account, this feature is best for you. It sends you updates on your teen's followers, recently followed profiles, Instagram time usage, and other platform activities. But, there are two caveats: (1) both the parent and the teen must agree to participate and set up Instagram's supervision tool, and (2) the parental supervision feature will automatically end when the teen turns 18.
Using Third-Party Applications
Instagram users may also try third-party apps or browser extensions for more accurate search results. Some third-party applications can help extract information from Instagram and update you on the latest activities of other users on the app, including a weekly report of their recent likes, interactions, and followed accounts. Third-party apps can give you better records to see who someone recently followed on Instagram.
However, it may be best to use something other than third-party applications for this. Be aware that your account information and privacy might be at risk if you connect your account to unsecured third-party applications you download and install on your device. Some may also require fees and charge you for app usage. If you want to try using them, choose a trusted and favored third-party application.
Are you also worried about having your Instagram account's following list checked by other users? You can keep non-followers off your profile by switching your Instagram account to private. This way, only the people you approve to follow your account will see your profile information and content.
Learn more about the frequently asked questions on different topics and trends in social media and marketing through our guides here!