Instagram Followers & Instagram Following List Order Explained

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You might have heard that Instagram arranges your follower and following lists in alphabetical order. However, that’s not the case anymore because Instagram has added a new sorting feature in the app that arranges your follower and following lists on the basis of different factors. I will discuss all these factors which are responsible for the specific arrangement of your followers and following so you can completely understand the Instagram Followers & Instagram Following List Order.

Instagram arranges the following and followers list on the basis of various factors. If an Instagram account has less than 200 followers, it is expected that its follower list will be arranged in alphabetical order or in the old to most recent follower arrangement. However, if the Instagram account has more than 200 followers, the list will be arranged differently on the basis of various factors like interactions, recent activity, interests, etc.

How the Following List is Ordered on Instagram?

Instagram following is a list of  Instagram users you have chosen to follow on the platform. It is normally sorted on the basis of two-way interaction. This indicates that the upper section of the list consists of users you connect with more frequently and receive likes and messages from. Moreover, the following list also depends on mutual connections. 

The way this algorithm works is simple: the people who have talked to you the most in the last few days are at the top of your following list. For example, if you have recently posted a picture on your account, and if any of your followers comment on it, that person will move to the top of the list. However, If you are viewing your friend’s Instagram profile, his/her following list will be arranged according to your mutual friends and interests.

How to View My Instagram Following List Order?

 Open the website version of Instagram or the mobile app and go to your profile.

Instagram Following List Order

Now, click the Following section, as shown in the picture below.

click the Following section, as shown in the picture below

This will display a list of all accounts you follow in descending order of how often you interact with them.

How to Sort The Following List on Instagram?

If you don’t want to view your following list arranged in the order of interactions, you can also filter it according to your choice. The most recent updates make it possible for you to view your following list using a filter. This enables you to view your list in accordance with the time, such as who you followed most recently.

Open the app, go to your profile, and click on Following.

Then, click on the tiny Sort icon located at the top right corner of the list.

click on the tiny Sort icon located at the top right corner of the list

Now, select “Date Followed: Latest” to view the most recent followers on the top of the list, and select “Date Followed: Earliest” in order to view the old followers on the top.

select “Date Followed Latest” to view the most recent followers on the top of the list, and select “Date Followed Earliest”

How the Followers List is Sorted on Instagram?

The followers list on Instagram is sorted differently according to the number of followers every Instagram has. 

Instagram Account With Followers Less Than 200

If any Instagram account has less than 200 followers, the follower list will be arranged in alphabetical order. The account name starting with A or a number will appear on the top and the names starting with Z will appear at the end of the list.

Instagram Account with Followers less than 200

Instagram Account With Followers of More Than 200

The Followers list of accounts with more than 200 followers is determined by an Instagram algorithm on the basis of various factors such as interactions, relevance, mutual followers, location, interest, etc.

How the Followers List is Ordered on Instagram?

The followers list on Instagram is arranged on the basis of the following factors:

  • Mutual Followers and Following – Mutual followers will be at the top of the list when viewing another person’s followers list.
  • Interactions – The more you interact with a person on Instagram, the higher position will his/her profile will get in your followers list.
  • Location – Another element taken into account by Instagram’s algorithm for determining followers lists is the location of accounts. The account with the same location as yours will also appear at the top of your followers list.
  • Interests – People who share the same interests such as Instagram pages, brands, etc. will appear on top of each other’s follower list.

How to View My Instagram Followers List Order?

Log in to your account on Instagram after opening the app.

Then, open your profile and click on the “Followers” option located next to the Following tab.

After that, your “Most Recent” followers will be shown in chronological order.

Why it is Important to Find Your Recent Followers on Instagram?

Recent friends, followers, or connections are extremely important when it comes to social media platforms. Whether it is your Recents on Snapchat or Shortcuts on Facebook, each of them has its own significance in the growth of your social media profile and they indicate your social media profile’s current status. Moreover, if you are using your social media profile for business purposes, the recent followers help you determine the growth and reach of your business among people on the platform.

For businesses, knowing who just started following you makes your followers feel important and makes them more likely to buy from your brand. Moreover, you can also check your competitor’s most recent followers to figure out who your potential customers are and what services you should make.

Final Thoughts

Instagram Following and Followers List Order are determined by the Instagram algorithm by considering a large number of factors. These factors include your recent activity, your interactions, your location, your interests, your mutual followers, etc. However, if you have less than 200 followers on Instagram, your followers will be arranged in alphabetical order but if you have more than 200 followers they will be arranged on the basis of other factors.

Does Instagram's algorithm prioritize stalkers at the top of the following list?

If the person is just visiting your profile on a frequent basis, it will not appear at the top of your followers list.

Can I find out who has saved my Instagram photos?

Yes, it is possible to find out who has saved your Instagram photos. For this purpose, open your profile, click on three horizontal lines located at the upper left side of the screen, and choose the option of "Saved”.

What does it mean when Instagram says “Sort by Default” on the following list on any Instagram user?

When used in this context, sorting by default refers to the process of sorting information automatically by the Instagram algorithm instead of manual selection.
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Ellis Ross

Hi, I am Ellis Ross, the Admin, and Writer of Techslooth. I have over 5 years of experience in social media and tech-related writing. I write well-researched, detailed, tested, and simple methods to assist users in understanding technology and social media apps. The majority of my articles are how-to guides for various digital platforms and tools, such as the Android and iPhone operating systems, as well as various social networks and mobile apps.