Secret Method to See Who Someone Recently Followed on Instagram

Tutorials & Methods
, ,
1

Secret Method to See Who Someone Recently Followed on Instagram

Ever wondered who someone just followed on Instagram but couldn’t find a clear way to check? Here’s a rarely-known yet effective method that reveals this information with surprising accuracy—no advanced tools or hacking needed.

:brain: Step-by-Step Guide to Uncover Instagram’s Recent Follows

  1. Go to the User’s Profile
    Navigate to the person’s Instagram profile using your browser or app.

  2. Access Their Following List
    Click on the “Following” section. Instagram lists the profiles this person follows—but not in strict chronological order.

  3. Use a Fresh (New or Inactive) Account
    Open their “Following” list from an account that:

    • Has no mutual connections with the target.

    • Has very low or no activity (ideally, a fresh burner account).

    This forces Instagram to display the following list in reverse chronological order for accounts with no social overlap.

  4. Compare with a Mutual or Main Account
    If you check the same “Following” list from a mutual or your main account, you’ll often see a different order, typically algorithmic (based on interactions or mutuals).

    The fresh account view, by contrast, shows the latest follows on top—making it possible to track who the user most recently followed.

:puzzle_piece: Why This Works

Instagram’s UI algorithm varies the “Following” order based on:

  • Account age and activity
  • Relationship between viewer and the viewed account
  • Interaction history

Using an unrelated or burner account circumvents this personalization, surfacing a chronological order.

:warning: Tips & Considerations

  • You can create multiple burners to validate patterns or to cross-check.
  • Ensure your burner has a realistic username and profile pic to avoid suspicion.
  • This doesn’t show when someone followed another user—just their relative recency.

This method provides a simple yet powerful trick to interpret Instagram’s follower behavior and understand someone’s recent interests or connections. Useful for research, social insights, or keeping an eye on public figures’ networking patterns.

Try it yourself and see the results instantly—no tools or extensions required.

6 Likes
2

does this work for anyone?