How to See Who Someone Recently Followed on Instagram
Ever wondered who someone just followed on Instagram? Maybe you're curious about a friend’s new connections or keeping an eye on your favorite influencer’s latest follows. While Instagram no longer shows a clear “following activity” like it used to, there are still ways to find out.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to see who someone recently followed on Instagram using a few simple tricks and tools.
Part 1: Can You See Who Someone Recently Followed on Instagram?
Instagram doesn’t make it easy to see who someone else recently followed. The platform has removed features that used to show the following activity, so now, things work a bit differently.
For Your Own Account
You can sort the list of people you follow by “Date Followed.” This gives you a general idea of who you followed most recently, but it doesn’t show the exact time or date. This feature is only visible to you when viewing your own following list.
Here’s how to go about it:
- Step 1. Go to your profile to check recent following on Instagram and tap on “Following.”
- Step 2. This will show you the list of all the people you follow. Tap the “Filter” icon and select “Date Followed: Latest.”
- Step 3. This will sort your “Following” list according to who you started following recently.
For Other People’s Accounts
You cannot sort someone's following list by date on Instagram. The platform typically shows mutual followers first. After that, the list is based on recent interactions, not strictly on who they followed most recently.
Part 2: How to See Who Someone Recently Followed on Instagram
In this section, we have discussed 2 ways to see your recent followers' Instagram. These include checking manually and using third-party tools.
Manually Check the Following List
The most straightforward way to see someone's recent followers on Instagram is to go to their profile and tap on their "Following" list. From there, you can scroll through and look for any new names that stand out.
- Step 1. Open Instagram, visit the person’s profile, and tap “Following.”
- Step 2. Manually browse the list and look for recent follows.
- Instagram doesn’t show the exact date someone was followed.
- It can be time-consuming, especially if the person follows many accounts.
- You can only do this for public or private accounts you already follow.
Limitations
Use Third-Party Tools
If manually checking isn’t your thing, several third-party tools claim to help you see who someone recently followed on Instagram. While these tools can be useful, be cautious; some may violate Instagram’s terms and could risk your account!
1Recent Follow
Recent Follow is a user-friendly website that lets you easily check out the latest followers of any Instagram username. Best of all, it’s completely free and there’s no need to sign up or register.
Here’s how to use it:
- Step 1. Go to Recent Follow, and enter the Instagram handle you want to check the recent followers of. Click “See Follows Now.”
- Step 2. This will show you a list of all the user's new followers and the accounts that the user recently followed.
- Easy to use
- Fast and saves time
- No signup needed
- Only works for public accounts
- Limited to 3 free searches
- Paid version needed for full details
Pros
Cons
2Toxic
Toxic is a mobile/web app that claims to give you real-time notifications when someone follows a new account, if their account is public.
- Step 1. Download the Toxic app on your PC or phone, sign up, and connect your Instagram profile.
- Step 2. Search for the user you want to monitor.
- Step 3. Get alerts when they follow someone or someone follows them.
- Works silently (no alerts to the user)
- Real-time notifications
- May trigger Instagram’s detection systems
- Risk of login suspension
- Requires subscription
- Not always accurate
Pros
Cons
3Ins Followers Exporter
Ins Followers Exporter is a Chrome extension that lets you export the follower list of any public Instagram account.
- Step 1. Install the extension from the Chrome Web Store
- Step 2. Launch the extension, sign in to your Google account, and enter the Instagram handle.
- Step 3. Wait for the data to load. Once done, click on “Download Followers” to download the file to your PC.
- It lets you download the entire follower list.
- It can access profiles directly.
- It is very slow
- It is limited to 429 profiles before the cooldown.
- It may lead to account suspension if overused.
Pros
Cons
Tool Comparison Table
| Tool | Features in Free Version | Price | Risks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recent Follow | 3 searches | $8/week | Only works with public accounts and requires paid subscription to search more than 3 profiles. |
| Toxic | Requires sign-up | Subscription only | May result in a profile ban and is not very accurate. |
| Ins Followers Exporter | Free extension Limitation of 429 profiles Resets after 10 to 60 minutes | Free | It is very slow and can result in a profile ban if detected. |
Part 3: Alternative Solutions to Check Someone’s Recent Following on Instagram
If third-party tools feel too risky or complicated, here are a couple of safer and more responsible alternatives:
Direct Communication
Sometimes, the simplest approach is just to ask! If you're a parent and you have concerns about who your child is following on Instagram, don’t hesitate to start a friendly conversation. Share your thoughts and let them know you're there to help. You can even suggest sharing access to keep an eye on their online activity together. It's all about open communication!
AirDroid Parental Control
If you're a parent looking to protect your child online, AirDroid Parental Control offers a helpful solution. It can monitor Instagram activity, including notifications about new followers, messages, and more.
With AirDroid’s Notification Sync feature, you can easily keep an eye on your child’s phone notifications right from your own device! This handy tool lets you see alerts for new messages or follower notifications from Instagram in real-time, so you can stay in the loop and be proactive while staying connected with them!
Conclusion
While Instagram doesn’t offer a built-in way to see who someone recently followed, there are still a few methods you can try. In this guide, we have discussed several ways how to see who someone recently followed on Instagram. From manually checking their following list to using third-party tools, we have included all the possibilities.
FAQs
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