How to Hide My Following List on Instagram?

The burning question: How do you cloak the digital trail of who you’re following on Instagram? Unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t offer a straightforward “hide followers/following list” button. The platform is inherently designed for visibility and connection. However, all hope isn’t lost! You have a few clever workarounds to drastically limit who can see who you’re following. The primary method? Switching to a Private Account. This essentially locks down your profile, making your following list visible only to approved followers. Think of it as building a digital velvet rope around your content and connections. Let’s delve deeper into how this works and explore other tactics.

Understanding Instagram Privacy

Before diving into specific tactics, it’s crucial to understand the foundational privacy settings on Instagram. This understanding empowers you to make informed decisions about your online presence.

Public vs. Private Accounts

This is the bedrock of your Instagram privacy.

• Public Accounts: Open to the world. Anyone can see your posts, stories, Reels, and, crucially, your follower and following lists. It’s the default setting for most new accounts.

• Private Accounts: Shielded from prying eyes. Only approved followers can see your content and, therefore, your following list. Strangers will only see your profile picture, bio, and follower/following counts, but not the actual lists.

Making your account private is the most effective way to hide your following list from those who aren’t already following you.

Steps to Make Your Account Private

Here’s how to lock down your Instagram profile:

1. Open Instagram: Tap the app icon.
2. Go to Your Profile: Tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner.
3. Access the Menu: Tap the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right corner.
4. Open Settings and Privacy: Tap “Settings and Privacy.”
5. Find Account Privacy: Scroll down and tap on “Account privacy.”
6. Toggle to Private Account: Switch the toggle next to “Private account” to the “on” position (it will turn blue or green).
7. Confirm: Instagram will ask you to confirm your decision. Tap “Switch to Private.”

Now, only approved followers can see your following list.

Alternative Strategies and Considerations

While making your account private is the most effective method, here are some additional strategies and considerations:

Remove Followers

This is a reactive approach. If you suspect a specific follower is snooping on your following list and you don’t want them to, you can remove them. They won’t be notified, but they’ll have to request to follow you again.

1. Go to Your Profile: Tap your profile picture.
2. Tap Followers: Select the “Followers” list.
3. Find the Follower: Scroll or search for the person you want to remove.
4. Tap Remove: Next to their name, tap “Remove.”
5. Confirm: A confirmation pop-up will appear. Tap “Remove” again.

Block Users

Blocking a user prevents them from seeing anything on your profile, including your following list. They also won’t be able to find your account in searches. This is the most drastic option.

1. Go to Their Profile: Find the profile of the person you want to block.
2. Tap the Menu: Tap the three dots in the top right corner of their profile.
3. Select Block: Choose the “Block” option.
4. Confirm: Confirm your decision.

Third-Party Apps: A Word of Caution

You might encounter third-party apps promising to hide your following list or offer other advanced privacy features. Be extremely cautious about these. Many are scams designed to steal your login credentials or spread malware. It’s best to avoid them altogether. Instagram’s terms of service often prohibit using such apps, and doing so could risk having your account suspended or banned.

The Visibility of Mutual Followers

Even with a private account, mutual followers (people who follow both you and someone else) will still see a small note indicating that you both follow certain accounts. This is unavoidable. It’s a social cue built into Instagram’s design.

New Accounts and Privacy Settings

When creating a new Instagram account, you have the option to set it to private from the start. This is a good practice if you prioritize privacy from the outset.

Limitations and Considerations

Remember that even with a private account, there’s no absolute guarantee of complete privacy. Your followers can still screenshot your profile or share information about your following list with others. Furthermore, if you interact with public accounts (liking or commenting), those interactions will still be visible to the public.

Maintaining a Balance: Privacy and Engagement

Striking a balance between privacy and engagement on Instagram can be tricky. Making your account private significantly restricts your reach and makes it harder for new people to discover your content. Consider your goals for using Instagram. If you’re a business or influencer, a public account might be necessary. If you prioritize personal privacy, a private account is the better choice. There is no one-size-fits-all answer; It all depends on your specific goals and comfort level.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about hiding your following list on Instagram, designed to provide further clarity and address common concerns.

1. Can I hide my follower count on Instagram?

No, Instagram does not offer a feature to hide your follower count. Your follower count is always visible to other users, regardless of whether your account is public or private.

2. Can I hide my following count on Instagram?

Similar to follower count, you cannot directly hide the number of accounts you are following. This number is publicly visible on your profile.

3. Will making my account private affect my existing followers?

No. Your existing followers will still be able to see your content and your following list. Only new followers will need to be approved.

4. How can I tell if someone is using a third-party app to view my private account?

It’s almost impossible to definitively tell if someone is using a third-party app to circumvent Instagram’s privacy settings. That’s why it’s best to be cautious about who you approve as a follower.

5. If I block someone, will they know they’ve been blocked?

Instagram doesn’t directly notify users when they’ve been blocked. However, they will notice they can no longer find your profile, and any mutual followers or interactions will disappear.

6. Can I hide specific followers from seeing my following list while keeping my account public?

No, this isn’t possible. With a public account, your following list is visible to everyone. You can only restrict access by making your account private or blocking specific users.

7. Does Instagram notify people when I remove them as followers?

No, Instagram does not send notifications when you remove someone as a follower.

8. If I switch my account back to public, will the people I previously blocked be able to see my profile again?

Yes. Blocking is not permanent unless you maintain the block. If you unblock someone and switch to a public account, they will be able to see your profile.

9. Are there any legal implications for using third-party apps to access private Instagram accounts?

Using third-party apps to bypass Instagram’s privacy settings could potentially violate their terms of service and may even raise legal concerns depending on the app’s functionalities and local laws regarding data access and privacy.

10. If I have a business account, can I make it private?

Yes, you can switch a business account to private. However, doing so will limit your reach and engagement significantly, hindering your business goals. Consider the trade-offs carefully.

11. How often can I switch between public and private accounts?

Instagram does not impose a limit on how often you can switch between public and private accounts. However, frequent switching might confuse your followers and negatively impact your engagement.

12. Is there a way to see who requested to follow me when my account is private?

Yes. When your account is private, you’ll receive follow requests from users who want to see your content. You can review these requests and choose to approve or deny them individually.