Instagram Following List Order: What You Should Know in 2024?

Instagram Analytics
Mamta September 18, 2024

Your Instagram following order is like a ranking system, where the algorithm decides who gets the top spots based on your interactions. But why do certain profiles consistently rise to the top, while others seem to fall behind? 

In this blog, we’ll break down how your Instagram following list order is organized and, more importantly, how you can use this information to improve your overall social presence and engagement. Let’s get started and learn how you can make the algorithm work for you! 

What is the Instagram Following List? 

The Instagram following list is simply a list of accounts you’ve decided to follow. But the order of Instagram following list is not always static; it changes based on multiple factors. Whether you frequently interact with certain profiles, share mutual followers, or check certain profiles more often than others, the Instagram following list order adjusts to reflect these patterns. 

Why the Instagram Following List Order Matters? 

The Instagram following order actually matters more than you think. It’s not just a random arrangement of people you follow. Instagram uses it to nudge you toward certain profiles.  

If someone appears near the top, you’re more likely to see and engage with their content. This can mean more likes, comments, and overall interaction for them—whether it’s your best friend or a business you follow. 

This subtle influence can have a big impact, especially for businesses looking to boost social media engagement

How is Instagram Follow List Order Determined? 

Instagram’s algorithm uses a complex set of factors to decide who shows up first on your Instagram following list order. It depends on a few things: 

Interaction Frequency 

How much you like, comment, and share other people’s posts. The more you interact, the higher they’ll likely be on your list. The algorithm prioritizes these profiles and ranks them in your Instagram follow list order to encourage more interaction and keep you on the platform longer. 

Mutual Followers 

How many people you follow in common with others. If you follow a lot of the same people as someone else, you might see them higher up on the order of Instagram following list. 

Recent Activity 

How recently you’ve interacted with accounts. If you’ve liked, commented, or viewed someone’s stories recently, they might appear higher. 

Profile Views 

How often people visit your profile. If someone is checking out your profile a lot, Instagram might show them to you more often. Again, it’s Instagram’s way of nudging you to stay connected with those showing interest in you. 

It’s hard to say exactly how important each of these factors is. Instagram doesn’t tell us the exact formula. But by looking at examples and sharing what we know, we can get closer to understanding the following list order on Instagram.  

How Following List Order on Instagram Can Help Influencers and Brands?  

For influencers and brands, who shows up first on Instagram following list order is a big deal!  

The higher you are on someone’s list, the more likely they are to see your posts. And the more people see your posts, the more likely you are to get likes, comments, and followers. 

So, how can you make sure you’re showing up at the top on Instagram follow list? 

  • Be a good interactor. Like, comment, and message the people you follow. The more you interact, the more Instagram will show you to them. 
  • Encourage people to interact with you. Post things that are fun and interesting, to get more likes, comments, and shares. (Check out our blog on latest and creative Instagram story ideas to get started!) 
  • Remember: It’s not just about who you follow, but also who follows you. If you can get people to follow you back and interact with your content, you’ll be more likely to show up higher on their Instagram following list order. 

Practical Tips to Optimize Your Instagram Following List Order 

Want to make the most of your Instagram following list order? Here are some practical tips to help you optimize your Instagram presence: 

For Influencers: 

If you’re an influencer, keeping your most engaged followers at the top of IG follow list is crucial for visibility. Here’s you can do it: 

View Instagram followers and engage regularly. This shows Instagram that you value their engagement and helps you stay at the top of their list. 

Use interactive features. Polls, quizzes, and Q&A sessions can encourage more interactions and keep you relevant. 

For Businesses: 

Businesses should focus on creating regular, engaging content to stay top-of-mind with their followers. Keep in mind these pointers: 

Offer exclusive content. This can be a great way to reward your most engaged followers and encourage them to interact more. Some examples include–behind the scenes content, new product launches, and tips & tutorials.  

Use stories and DMs. These interactions are given more weight by Instagram’s algorithm. 

For General Users: 

Use Instagram followers and following list compare features to find out who you’re following but not following back. It’s a simple way to stay organized. You can do that by: 

Checking if someone is following you. Simply go to their profile and look for the “Following You” label. 

Seeing all followers you don’t follow back. Manually compare your “Followers” and “Following” lists to identify those who aren’t following you back. Or simply use Instagram followers and following list compare tools.  

How to Check Who Isn’t Engaging in Your Instagram Following List?  

If you’re wondering how to see in your Instagram followers who don’t interact with your content, or how to see in your Instagram following who doesn’t interact, there isn’t a direct feature available.  

However, there are several effective strategies you can employ: 

Manual Review: 

One option is to manually go through your followers list and check who hasn’t liked, commented, or interacted with your posts recently. You can also compare your IG follow list and followers to see if there are users, you’re following but not engaging with, or vice versa. 

Using Third-Party Tools: 

There are several third-party apps and tools that can help you track inactive followers. These tools can help you analyze the order of following list on Instagram and identify users who aren’t contributing to your engagement. 

By regularly reviewing your list and understanding how these inactive users impact your overall engagement, you can adjust Instagram marketing strategy to better target your most engaged followers. 

How to See All Followers I Don’t Follow Back?  

If you’re wondering how to see all followers I don’t follow back, follow these steps: 

Use a Comparison Tool 

Tools that compare your Instagram followers and following list can quickly show who follows you but isn’t followed back. These tools make it easy to manage your connections with just a few clicks. 

Manual Check 

If you prefer a hands-on approach, you can manually check: 

  • Go to your profile and view your followers. 
  • Compare this list to your following list. 
  • Note the accounts that appear in your followers but not in your following list. 

Using these methods helps keep your Instagram follower list organized and engage with your audience effectively. 

How Do I See My Most Recent Followers on Instagram? 

To view your most recent followers on Instagram, follow these steps: 

  • Open Your Profile: Go to your Instagram profile by tapping your profile picture in the bottom right corner. 
  • Access Followers List: Tap on the “Followers” count at the top of your profile. This opens a list of all your followers. 
  • Sort by Recent Activity: Instagram does not offer a direct way to sort followers by most recent, but you can manually scroll through the list to see new followers. Newest followers typically appear at the top of the list. 

Regularly checking this list helps you keep track of new followers and engage with them promptly.  

Track Daily Instagram Follower Increase with Vaizle 

To simplify tracking the number of your most recent followers on Instagram, I’ll recommend using Vaizle. 

With Vaizle’s free Instagram analysis tool, you can easily track your follower count and profile performance day by day. It helps you spot trends, figure out what’s boosting your follower growth (or causing a dip), and tweak your strategy for more engagement. 

You can get started within seconds. All you have to do is link your Meta account and select the profile you want to analyze. 

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Conclusion 

The Instagram following list order may seem pointless initially, but it actually reflects how the algorithm perceives your overall interactions. As an influencer or a brand, understanding the social media algorithm can be the cue to your success.  

That’s one step of your marketing workflow. To truly understand the impact of your strategies, you need in-depth analytics. That’s where Vaizle comes in. Vaizle is an easy-to-use marketing analytics suite that lets you track the performance of your social media and ad accounts, create intuitive reports, and get insights to optimize every move. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I see my most recent followers on Instagram?

Instagram organizes your “Followers” list by most recent activity, so the latest followers will appear at the top. However, this list is only accessible from mobile devices.

How does Instagram determine who shows up first on the order of following list on Instagram?

Instagram uses a combination of factors like interaction frequency, mutual followers, and recent activity to decide the order of followers on Instagram. 

Can I manually reorder my Instagram following list?

No, you can’t manually change the order of your IG follow list. It’s determined by Instagram’s algorithm based on your activity.

Does Instagram notify when someone views my profile?

No, Instagram does not notify users when someone views their profile. However, frequent interactions, like profile views, can impact the order of your following list on Instagram.

About the Author

Mamta

Mamta

Mamta is an SEO Analyst with 2 years of experience. Currently, she is spending her time on content roadmapping to drive organic growth and engagement for SaaS businesses. Mamta is also an avid cinephile who spends her spare time watching latest action and sci-fi flicks from around the world.

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