Instagram shows everyone’s following list in random order, and you can’t easily see who a person just started following. The task gets tougher when someone follows more than 500 accounts.
The platform made viewing followers in chronological order much harder after June 2021. Many users feel frustrated trying to check their latest Instagram follows or see someone else’s recent activity. The widespread nature of this issue shows in the numbers – almost 290,000 people have looked up ways to solve this problem.
This piece will help you discover your recent Instagram follows through official methods. You’ll also learn some smart ways to check other people’s latest follows. While Instagram doesn’t have a “sort by most recent” button for viewing other users’ follow lists, you’ll find some practical tools and workarounds to track these activities without drawing attention.
How to see who you recently followed on Instagram
Instagram makes it easy to check which accounts you started following lately right from the app. You can see your own recent follows with just a few taps using Instagram’s sorting feature, though you can’t track other users’ activity this way.
Go to your profile and tap ‘Following’
Here’s how to find your recently followed list:
- Open Instagram on your mobile device
- Tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner of the screen
- Look for the “Following” counter at the top of your profile page
- Tap on the “Following” number to access your complete list of followed accounts
The complete list of accounts you follow will open up. Instagram doesn’t show this list in time order by default. Instead, it uses an algorithm that arranges accounts based on how you interact with them.
Sort by ‘Date followed: Latest’
Instagram has a built-in sorting tool that lets you organize your following list by date:
- Look for the sort icon (appears as two arrows) next to the “Sort by default” label at the top of your following list
- Tap on these arrows to open the sorting menu
- Select “Date followed: Latest” from the available options
Your following list will refresh and show accounts in reverse time order after you pick this option. Your newest follows will show up at the top, so you can quickly spot your recent connections.
You can also pick “Date followed: Earliest” to see the first Instagram accounts you followed. This can take you on a fun trip down memory lane!
This feature is only available for your own account
The sorting feature works only with your personal following list. Instagram limits this function to protect everyone’s privacy and prevent tracking of other users’ activities.
You’ll see the chronological sorting option only when looking at your own following list. This feature won’t appear when checking someone else’s followers or following lists. Instagram designed it this way to balance privacy with personal activity tracking.
Instagram shows you the order of follows but doesn’t display exact timestamps. This gives you a general idea of when you followed accounts without detailed tracking info.
How to see recently followed on someone’s Instagram
Finding someone’s latest Instagram follows isn’t as simple as checking your own list. Instagram doesn’t let users sort other people’s following lists directly. In spite of that, you can try several ways to figure out who someone just started following.
Visit their profile and open the ‘Following’ tab
You’ll need to access their profile directly to see who they might have started following:
- Search for the person’s username in the search bar
- Tap on their profile to open it
- Look at the top of their profile for the “Following” count
- Tap on this number to open their complete following list
This shows all accounts they follow, but not always in time order.
Check for new accounts at the top (may vary)
Instagram’s algorithm changes have shifted things around, but new follows might still show up near the top of someone’s list:
Scroll through the original accounts shown. Instagram sometimes puts new follows at the start of the list, but this isn’t always the case. The behavior changes between users and updates.
The placement depends on several factors beyond timing, such as mutual connections and how users interact. This inconsistency means the top accounts might not show their latest follows accurately.
Use browser version for better consistency
Instagram’s desktop version often shows different sorting patterns:
- Open Instagram in a web browser instead of the app
- Direct yourself to the person’s profile page
- Click on their “Following” count
- Get into the first few rows of accounts
The browser version tends to show recent follows near the top more reliably than the mobile app. While this approach isn’t perfect, users get better results with Instagram’s web interface.
Note that whatever method you choose, Instagram makes it hard to track others’ following activity. This protects user privacy and discourages people from monitoring others’ behavior too closely.
Tools and browser tricks to track recent follows
Instagram’s standard methods might not be good enough to track your latest follows. You can try third-party tools and browser tricks that give you better ways to see following activities beyond Instagram’s basic interface.
Using DolphinRadar for public accounts
DolphinRadar is a specialized Instagram tracking tool that shows you who any public Instagram user followed in order. You’ll get live updates about follow activities without logging into your Instagram account.
The tool lists follow activity in order – from oldest to newest follows. This gives you a clear view of someone’s follow patterns. You can keep track of who someone follows, and the updates happen in real time. The best part? DolphinRadar works without letting monitored accounts know about your tracking.
IGExport for exporting follow lists
IGExport takes a different path by letting you export Instagram’s follower and following lists with one click. The tool works on both iOS and Android devices and creates CSV files that you can open in Excel to analyze further.
Your exported data has complete information like usernames, names, and profile details. You can sort and filter these lists in spreadsheet format any way you want. This becomes especially helpful to spot new follows by comparing follower lists over time.
Enable desktop view on mobile for better layout
The desktop view on your mobile browser can improve your Instagram experience if you don’t want to use other tools:
- Open Chrome on your Android or iOS device
- Go to Instagram.com and log in
- Tap the three-dot menu icon in Chrome
- Select “Request Desktop Site” from the dropdown menu
The desktop version shows recent follows more clearly at the top of following lists than the mobile app does. This simple browser trick works well enough for casual checking without extra tools.
What Instagram doesn’t show and how to stay safe
You need to learn about Instagram’s privacy limits before you try to track accounts someone follows. The platform puts restrictions on certain information to protect user privacy and keep the social experience engaging.
No timestamps or notifications for follows
Instagram doesn’t show exact timestamps when someone follows an account. You won’t see “followed 2 days ago” like other social networks do. The platform also skips sending notifications when accounts you follow start following others. This design helps discourage people from monitoring others’ activities too much while protecting privacy.
Private accounts limit visibility
Private profiles have much tighter visibility limits. A private profile means:
- Only approved followers can see their following list
- Third-party tools can’t access their following information
- Approved followers can’t sort the following list by date
These barriers stop unauthorized tracking. Any attempt to bypass these limits breaks Instagram’s terms of service and might get your account restricted.
Avoid shady apps that ask for login access
You might find unofficial apps that want your Instagram login details while trying to see recently followed accounts. Of course, these apps come with serious security risks:
- Someone could steal your account
- Your data might get collected without permission
- Your password could get stolen
Safe tools don’t need your Instagram login information. Yes, it is best to stay away from any app that asks for your account details.
Tips to keep your own activity private
Here’s what you can do if you want to keep others from tracking who you follow:
- Switch to a private account
- Check connected apps in your settings often
- Don’t follow too many accounts at once to avoid showing up first in lists
- Be careful about who you let follow you
Instagram’s privacy features exist with good reason too—they create balance between staying connected and keeping personal boundaries in the digital world. Respecting these boundaries helps create a better social media experience for everyone.
Conclusion
The sort of thing I love about Instagram is how it makes tracking someone’s recent follows quite challenging. The platform has made some deliberate design choices that affect this. Let me show you a few ways to keep tabs on new follows while staying within Instagram’s privacy rules.
Looking up your own follows is pretty simple. Just head to your profile, tap “Following,” and pick “Date followed: Latest.” This built-in feature shows all your follows in order, no extra steps needed.
Checking other people’s recent follows takes a bit more work. Instagram’s browser version sometimes puts newer connections at the top of following lists, but this isn’t always reliable. On top of that, tools like DolphinRadar and IGExport help track public accounts securely.
Instagram has limited this feature to protect everyone’s privacy. This makes sense. Private accounts have extra restrictions, and you won’t see exact follow times anywhere. These limits help stop excessive tracking and keep social boundaries healthy.
Your safety should come first when trying these methods. Stay away from sketchy apps that want your login details – they’re nowhere near safe. If privacy matters to you, switch your account to private or be selective about who you follow.
We’re naturally curious about social connections on Instagram. All the same, respecting privacy helps create a better platform for everyone. Now you can guide yourself through Instagram’s following lists while keeping proper digital boundaries.
FAQs
Q1. How can I see who I recently followed on Instagram? To view your recent follows, go to your profile, tap “Following”, and select “Sort by: Date followed: Latest” from the sorting options. This will display your following list in reverse chronological order, with your most recent follows at the top.
Q2. Is there a way to see someone else’s recent Instagram follows? Instagram doesn’t provide a direct way to see others’ recent follows. However, you can try checking the top of their following list on the browser version of Instagram, as it sometimes displays newer connections first. Keep in mind this method isn’t always reliable.
Q3. Are there any tools to track Instagram following activity? Yes, there are third-party tools like DolphinRadar and IGExport that can help track following activity for public accounts. These tools can provide more detailed information about recent follows without requiring your Instagram login credentials.
Q4. Does Instagram show timestamps for when someone followed an account? No, Instagram does not display exact timestamps for when a user followed an account. This is part of the platform’s privacy measures to discourage excessive monitoring of other users’ activities.
Q5. How can I keep my own following activity private on Instagram? To maintain privacy, consider setting your account to private, regularly reviewing connected applications in your settings, and being selective about who you approve as followers. Additionally, limiting your following activity can help prevent your account from appearing at the top of algorithmic sorts.
