Have you recently been Instagram stalking someone and are you afraid that they might be suggested to follow you on the platform? We hear you!
In today’s blog, we’ll delve deep into the mystery of Instagram’s “suggestions,” explain how the site’s algorithm works and tackle the question of whether or not you need to be concerned about stalking someone on the app.
If I Stalk Someone On Instagram Will I Be Suggested
Unfortunately, there is no direct answer to this question. It depends on the Instagram algorithm, which is a fairly complex and advanced system to crack into. And depending on the algorithm, the answer could be yes or no.
We’ve all been in the position of stalking someone on the gram and worrying about how they might know about it — whether through third-party analytics or Instagram recommending our profile to them — raising suspicions that we’re stalking them.
Well, put your worries to rest, as the Instagram algorithm isn’t exactly child’s play. It considers a wide range of factors before recommending someone’s Instagram profile to a user, including their mutual friends, contact information, Facebook app friends, and hashtag usage, among many other things.
Hence, stalking someone won’t automatically add you to their “people you may know” list as there are literally a lot of factors at play.
Also, some websites claim that stalking another user will not result in your profile being suggested to the other user. This is because Instagram’s privacy policy guarantees that your browsing history, search history, and activities are kept private, so suggesting your profile solely because you stalked someone goes against the stated policy.
For these reasons, there’s a lack of a definitive theory or answer; however, we can say with confidence that many factors contribute to the final suggested friends and that merely “stalking” someone won’t cause your profile to be suggested to the other user.
What Are Instagram Suggestions Based On?
Instagram’s suggested accounts are determined by a number of variable factors, such as your activity on the Instagram app, the accounts you follow and engage with, and the photos and videos you like and comment on.
This social media platform’s algorithms use this data to recommend accounts to follow and content to display in your Instagram feed and explore page!
Let’s understand each of these factors more in detail:
Phone Contacts
It is possible for Instagram to make suggestions for accounts to follow based on the people in your phone’s address book.
If you’ve allowed the Instagram app to access your phone’s contacts, it can use this information to suggest accounts that are connected to people in your contacts
For example, if you have a contact in your phonebook who also uses Instagram, you’ll probably see a suggestion for their account. Similarly, if someone in your contacts list creates an Instagram account using the same phone number, Instagram will immediately add that user to your suggested list.
Keep in mind that you can turn off this feature at any time by going to your Instagram settings and changing the “Connect Contacts” option.
Search History
Instagram monitors all your activities on its platform, including the profiles you have searched, that is, your search history.
This means that if you frequently search for and interact with a specific account, Instagram’s algorithm is more likely to recommend that account to you in the “Suggested for you” section.
The friend recommendations that you receive on the app keep changing over time based on your recent activity and engagement. In addition, you always have the option to clear your search history to avoid getting suggestions based on your search history!
Mutual Friends
On Instagram, having mutual friends with someone can potentially affect the suggestions you see for new accounts to follow.
Mutual friends are a sign that you may have similar interests or social circles with another person. This data can be used by Instagram’s algorithm to suggest accounts that you might be interested in following and engaging with based on your mutual friends.
For instance, Instagram will most likely recommend that account to you if you and another user have a number of friends in common who follow and interact with a particular dancer’s account based on the assumption that you might also enjoy their content.
Also Read: Can People See What You Search On Instagram?
Your Followers
Having a specific set of Instagram followers list can tell Instagram what kind of content you and your followers like. Based on this info, Instagram can suggest other accounts that are similar in content or style to those that you and your followers engage with.
For example, Instagram could recommend similar accounts to you if you have a large number of followers who also follow and engage with fitness and wellness accounts.
But there’s a catch: If your followers have a diverse set of interests and engage with a variety of content, then the impact of “Your Followers” on Instagram’s suggestions may be less significant.
Using The Same Hashtag
Using the same hashtag as other users on Instagram could have a significant impact on the accounts that are suggested for you to follow.
When you use the same hashtag as another user, Instagram’s algorithm can sometimes interpret this as a sign that you share their interest in the same topics or content. Based on this data, Instagram could recommend other accounts that use the same hashtag or are related to the hashtag.
If you frequently use the hashtag #vegandiet, for instance, Instagram might recommend other accounts that do the same, such as vegan recipe accounts or vegan influencers.
Also Read: Why Is My Instagram Explore Page Full Of Models?
You’re Friends On Facebook
Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are all linked as they are a part of the Meta umbrella. This means that if you are friends with someone on your Facebook profile, they will probably show up on your Instagram suggestion list.
The Instagram algorithm will use this information and notify you if a Facebook friend creates a new Instagram account and connects it to Facebook.
The Instagram algorithm does this in order to motivate users to connect with their friends on various platforms.
Also Read: Can You See Who Views Your Instagram Videos
If I Stalk Someone On Instagram Will They Know?
There isn’t an in-built feature that notifies a user when someone stalks their account, so don’t worry if you’ve recently stalked someone and are concerned that they might find out about it.
Instagram users will be unable to see the profile viewers’ names, regardless of whether it is a personal, business, or content profile. None of the Instagram insights metrics can help a user know the usernames of people who have visited their profile.
Therefore, unless you engage with their content (such as by liking or commenting on their posts or viewing their IG stories) or send them a direct message, the person you are stalking on Instagram won’t know.
Although some third-party “Instagram stalker” apps make the claim to inform users of the profile that has been stalking them on the platform, these apps come with their own set of risks.
Because they require your login information and store your data, third-party Insta stalker apps should not be trusted as they pose a threat to the security and privacy of users.
As a matter of fact, Instagram itself cautions users against using such tools as they could potentially compromise their security.
FAQs
Does A Friend Suggestion Mean Someone Looked At Your Profile?
No, just because their name appears in the friend suggestion doesn’t necessarily mean that they have looked at your profile.
When a social media platform suggests a friend, it typically means that its algorithms have found some connections or common interests between you and the suggested user.
The people you are friends with, the groups you are a part of, and the content you have shared could all play a role in this.
Hence, even if they haven’t specifically looked at your profile, it’s still possible that they were referred to you because of connections or interests you have in common.
The friend suggestion might also be influenced by other elements, like your location or the device you’re using.
How Do You Get On Someone’s Suggested List On Instagram?
Several factors can influence whether or not you appear on someone’s Instagram suggested list.
Having mutual connections — if you and the person have mutual followers, you are more likely to appear on their suggested list.
Connecting your Instagram and Facebook accounts — if you already have a friend on Facebook and want to be added to their list of suggestions. Your account will be recommended by Instagram to your Facebook friends who are also Instagram users.
Using relevant hashtags — by including relevant hashtags in your Instagram posts, you’ll be more likely to show up in users’ suggested lists and be found by them.
However, none of the above-mentioned tricks can guarantee that you will appear on someone’s suggested list because the Instagram algorithm is quite complex, and it is difficult to hack into.
Why Does My Ex Come Up in my Instagram Suggestions?
Your ex might be suggested on Instagram for a few different reasons:
One possibility is that you have mutual followers or interests, causing Instagram’s algorithms to recommend your ex as a potential friend.
In addition, if you and your ex have ever liked, commented on, or tagged one another in content, that interaction can also contribute to your ex showing up as a suggestion.
Another possibility is that you and your ex have a shared location or device history. If you both used Instagram on the same device or in the same location, your ex might appear as a suggestion.
Finally, remember that Instagram’s algorithms are designed to show users the content and connections that are most relevant to them.
If you and your ex have a shared history or interests, Instagram’s algorithms may simply be attempting to show you content and connections that it believes you will find most interesting.
Do Private Accounts Show On Instagram Suggestions?
Yes, private Instagram accounts do appear in Instagram suggestions. It makes no difference whether the account is private or not.
If you have something in common or if the Instagram algorithm thinks that a profile matches your interest, it will push them to your “People you may know” list.
