As part of a social media platform, Instagram allows its users to follow other users and be followed. While it can be fun and inspiring to explore new content, sometimes you may want to keep the people you follow to yourself. Therefore, in this article we will explain how you can hide your Instagram following list from your followers.
1. Understanding Why You May Want to Hide Your Following List
In today’s digital world, more and more people are taking control of their social media that exists across multiple networks. It’s becoming more common for users to decide which profiles and people they choose to follow – and also if they want to hide their following list. There are several reasons why it might be beneficial to do so:
- Privacy & Control – when you hide your following list, people will not be able to view the accounts you follow, giving you more control over who can see your online activity. This could help stop people from cyberstalking you or making incorrect assumptions about you.
- Focus – hiding your following list stops you from being distracted by accounts that you may not be interested in anymore. It can also help focus your attention on the information you care about and are interested in following.
- Productivity – when you limit the number of accounts you follow, you can spend less time scrolling through your feed, allowing you to be productive and focussed.
Before you choose to hide your following list, it would be useful to weigh up the potential benefits and drawbacks. If you decide it is the right decision for you, then you should use the tools your chosen social media platform offers to make the update to your profile.
2. Steps to Hide Your Following List on Instagram
1. Log in to your Instagram Account: To make changes to your public profile on Instagram, you must be logged into your account. Log in on a web browser or the mobile app.
2. Manage Who You Follow: Once you are logged in, go to your profile page, click the “Edit Profile” option at the top right side of the screen. Under “Private Account”, select “Edit”. You will see an option to “Manage who you follow”. You will be able to make changes from here.
3. Select “Hide From Profile” Option:Under “Manage who you follow”, you will see a list of your follows. Simply select “Hide from profile” beside the accounts you want to hide. The accounts will not appear in the list on your profile page. Your selections will be saved automatically.
3. Turning off the Activity Status on Instagram
If you want to maintain your privacy on Instagram, then it is possible to turn off the Activity Status. This feature lets your contacts know when you are active of the app, when you were last seen, and when you were active. If this makes you uncomfortable, then it is possible to switch it off:
- Open Settings. In the Instagram app, go to your profile page, then tap on the three-line icon in the top-right corner. Then, select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
- Tap Privacy. On the next page, select “Privacy”.
- Turn off Activity Status. From the next page, select “Activity Status”. You can now switch the toggle to the off position.
After leaving this page, your Activity Status toggle will remain off even when you log out of the app. Turn this back on if you ever want to let your contacts know when you are active on Instagram again.
Notifications can also be adjusted within the Settings page. It is possible to restrict who can leave comments and who can view your story. If you want to stop getting notifications for specific users, go to the “Notifications” section of the Settings page and restrict them from there.
4. User Settings That You Can Customize to Keep Your Following List Private
Social media platforms have user settings available to customize your profile or page so that you can keep your list of followers private. If a user wants to keep its followers list private, there are several user settings that can be enabled.
1) Make Your Profile Private: On some of the social media platforms, you have to click on the privacy ‘lock’ icon in order to make your profile private. This means that you have to approve anyone who follows you and view the profile. It is important to note that your profile may remain public, even if you make changes to the user settings.
2) Choose Who Can Follow You: Additionally, depending on the platform, you can also choose who can follow you. For example, with Twitter, you can choose who can follow by enabling the setting that only allows followers you approve to view your profile.
3) Limit Post Visibility: On many social media sites, users can decide who can view their post. You can either make your post open to the public, or restrict visibility to your followers only. Facebook allows you to adjust post privacy by audiences or even make particular posts only visible to yourself.
5. Keeping Your Personal Preference in Mind When Adjusting Your Settings
When adjusting your settings, it is important to keep your own personal preferences in mind. Your preferences will likely differ from those of your peers, so being mindful of your own needs will ensure you are getting the most out of your device.
Customizing a Keyboard: One way you can customize your device is by customizing your keyboard (available on both iOS and Android). You can adjust the size of the keyboard, add emojis, certain key sequences and more. Be sure to choose a configuration that works best for you and maximizes your daily productivity.
Wireless setup: If you want to take advantage of a wireless connection on your device, you may need to make some adjustments. Start by searching for the network you want to join. Once found, you will likely need to enter a password. Make sure your broadcasting is enabled and you have the appropriate security settings for your device.
Navigation: Keeping your personal navigation preferences in mind is also important. Most devices come with voice navigation and map navigation. You can customize your navigation settings by adjusting the speed with which you travel and the type of route you take. Additionally, you can opt-out of features such as traffic alerts or route changes.
Remember that your profile privacy settings are there to protect your personal information and activities from those who do not have your best interests at heart. Hiding your Instagram following list from your followers can help protect your privacy and guard against unwanted scrutiny. However, it is important to remember that complete privacy is impossible on a public platform like Instagram. It is best to stay aware of your social media activities and to be mindful of who you allow to follow and view your content.
