With over 2 billion monthly active users, Instagram remains one of the most used social media platforms globally. From influencers and celebrities to businesses and everyday users, the app has evolved into a multifaceted tool for connection, branding, and content sharing.
One of the most frequently asked questions about Instagram, especially among its most curious users, is: “How is the following list ordered?” Whether you’re looking through your own list or someone else’s, the order of users can seem unpredictable and often sparks speculation.
If you have a similar intrigue in your mind, wondering how your account’s following list is arranged, read till the end of this detailed guide for all the details.
Table of Contents
What Even Is the Following List?
As the name suggests, the following list refers to the accounts that the user has “chosen to follow.” This means it’s a list of all the accounts you follow from your Instagram account.
Don’t confuse it with the “Followers” list, which shows the people who follow the particular user on Instagram.
So, when you check your own profile or visit someone else’s Instagram profile to check out their “Following List,” it usually displays all of the accounts in a specific order. But, how is that determined, and what factors influence the order of the list?
Many users speculate that the “order” or algorithm of the following list on Instagram is influenced by the people who have recently followed the account or those who interact the most with it.
With so many potential theories floating around, let us get the facts straightened out.
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How is the Instagram Following List Order Determined or Created?
To be fair, there are a few different factors that influence the order of the following list on Instagram. The people who show up on the top aren’t necessarily “new followers” only because there are a lot of other factors at play.
The following are a few primary factors to look out for:
1. How Often do You Interact?
Instagram thrives on engagement and interaction between its users, so it isn’t surprising that the interaction frequency is the most critical factor that determines the order of the following list.
For example, if you interact with a particular account frequently, such as commenting on and sharing their posts, the chances of you appearing high on their follower list are higher. Usually, the Instagram algorithm will prioritize those accounts first, ranking them higher on the list.
2. How Many Mutual Followers do You Have?
If you and the other account (whose following list you are checking) have a lot of mutual followers, that’s another factor that will put you high up in their following list.
For example, if you both follow a lot of the same accounts, you might see them higher in your following list and vice versa.
3. How Recently Have You Interacted with Them?
If you have recently liked, viewed their story, commented on their posts, or shared their reels on your account, there are high chances you’ll be ranked high up in their following list too. Again, this is not a 100% concrete scenario, but there are high chances of it happening.
4. How Often Do You Visit Their Profile?
Although it sounds stalkerish, if you frequently visit and check out their profile, that’s another potential reason that might make the Instagram algorithm favor your account, putting it higher up in the list of other IG accounts.
All that said, Instagram doesn’t disclose precisely how it arranges the order of the list, so it’s impossible to say with 100% certainty that this is the reason. However, the factors we have sorted out here could be some of the potential ones influencing the order list.
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Are There Any Ways to Optimize the Order of the Following List on Instagram?
If you want to make the most out of your Instagram following list, there are specific tips that you need to keep in mind:
If You Are an Influencer:
Influencers thrive on their Instagram following, so it’s safe to say that if you want more collaboration opportunities, the key is to optimize your list well.
One of the best things you can do is engage with your followers frequently, responding to them and valuing their engagement, so that your following count consistently increases and it comes from real accounts, not bots.
Another way to keep your followers engaged is by leveraging all the interactive features that Instagram offers, including polls, quizzes, and Q&A sessions.
If You Are a Business Account:
Since marketing is the cornerstone of a business’s growth and sales, you need to keep your followers engaged. If you want to thrive on Instagram, you have to put yourself in your target audience’s shoes and try to figure out what they would engage with the most.
Besides standard marketing material, consider sharing exclusive content too, encouraging them to interact more with your brand. Also, don’t take Instagram stories and direct messages lightly, because they also influence the algorithm significantly.
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What are the Common Myths vs Facts About Following List Order on Instagram?
Many users have theories about the following list—some of which are based on real patterns, while others are purely speculative, so let us get a fact-check:
| Myth | Fact |
| People you stalk appear first in their following list. | Not necessarily. Instagram does not let others see your behavior. |
| The following list shows who they like the most. | It can reflect interactions, but not romantic preference. |
| You can see if someone stalks you via the list. | Instagram does not reveal stalkers through the following list order. |
| People whom you recently followed are always at the top. | Only temporarily—interaction matters more in the long run. |
| Verified accounts are always higher. | Only if they are relevant to you or frequently interact with them. |
These myths vs. facts should help clarify many of the misconceptions people have about the Instagram following list order.
Are There Ways to Check Which Accounts from the Following List on Instagram Aren’t Engaging?
Bot and inactive accounts on Instagram are the last thing you want in your following list. These might make it seem like you have “more following,” but the lack of engagement is bound to affect your Instagram account’s reach.
So, if you want to stay on top of the algorithm and push your account to your target audience, the key is to remove these weeds and give your following list a refresh.
The following are a few ways to do it:
1. Conduct a Manual Review
If you aren’t following many people, a manual review is your best bet. This involves skimming through the following list and pointing out the accounts that aren’t engaging. You can either remove them from your following list or interact with them personally to form a better connection with your audience.
2. Using Third-Party Software
If you suspect that there are a lot of inactive followers (or bots) in your following or followers list, there is specific third-party software that can help you figure them out. You can get a list of accounts from these tools and then remove them from your account if you wish to boost your engagement and account reach.
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Is There a Way to Check Most Recent Followers on Instagram?
If you want to keep track of your following and follower’s list on Instagram, checking the most recent follows, the steps are pretty simple to keep a note of them:
- Open your Instagram app and go to the profile tab.
- Tap on “Followers” and scroll.
- Usually, the accounts that have recently followed your account are the ones that appear at the top of the list (even if it’s temporarily).
At present, Instagram doesn’t have any tool that “sorts” out the new followers with filters, so you’d have to do a manual check-in every day to keep track of the most recent follows.
Final Words
The Instagram following list is more than just a random order of names—it’s a window into how you and others interact on the platform. There are consistently new updates on Instagram, so it won’t be surprising if they introduce a new one that helps users keep track of their new followers, allowing them to curate content tailored to their target audience’s interests. It is safe to say that the following list gives you insight into the social dynamics of the platform. So, next time you check out someone’s following list, take a second look. It might just tell you more than you expect.
About Carson Derrow
