Do you ever wonder who can and cannot see your Instagram stories? In this article, we will provide a comprehensive overview of who can view your Instagram story and various other limitations associated with the platform.
1. What is an Instagram Story?
An Instagram Story is a feature within the Instagram app that allows users to share photos, videos, and other content publicly with their followers for a period of 24 hours, after which the content is no longer visible. It is different from regular posts in the user’s feed, as the content vanishes automatically in 24 hours.
An Instagram Story can include photos and videos with special effects, text, emojis, stickers, and live video or video chatting. Users can also post polls, ask questions and share other users’ posts.
- An Instagram Story provides another way of connecting with followers – they offer a more authentic, quick and creative way of engaging with them.
- The content vanishes automatically in 24 hours – you don’t need to crowd the user’s profile or the followers’ feeds with content, and you can post different types of content in one Story.
- You can track engagement with your Instagram Story – you can view the number of views, the people who have seen your Story and the exact time they have seen it.
2. Who Can See Your Instagram Story?
When creating an Instagram story, you can always modify who can view it. You can share stories with everyone, just people you follow, or only the specific people you choose.
Only Followers
If you choose to share your story with just people you follow, only your followers can see your story. If someone follows your account after you’ve shared the story, they won’t be able to see it. They would need to join before the story was posted.
Specific People
If you wish to share a story with only certain people and not your full set of followers, you can do so in a few clicks. First, select the direct shareoption located at the bottom of the story options. Then select the share to people option. A search bar will appear so you can search for the people you want to share the story with.
Completely Private
If you want to share the story completely privately, you can. You can do this by sharing the story to a Close Friends list. You can create this list in your Instagram settings, and your story will only be visible when shared to that list. The content you share with this list will only be visible to the people on the list.
- Anyone you follow can see your story if you allow it.
- You can share stories only with specific people.
- Close Friends list lets you share stories privately.
3. How to Post an Instagram Story
Start Posting in a Few Steps
Posting an Instagram Story is a great way to keep followers updated with your activities. Post a Story to share an inside look at your day-to-day, or for larger occasions like the upload of a new video or song. To get started, follow the steps below:
- On the home screen, select the “Your Story” icon in the top left corner. It is indicated by a camera-like symbol alongside your profile picture.
- You can add from a collection of photos, notes, text and drawings, filters, GIFs and even other people’s posts. Take advantage of the additional features such as interactive polls, music, stickers and hashtags.
- Finally, you can select the send button when you’re finished with your Story.
Make it Visually Appealing
You can make your Story more attractive with well-edited photos, fun filters and fonts, polls, slideshows and emojis. If you want to take it a step further, consider advanced tips like taking photos of yourself that appear pleasing and balanced, flip the photos and other advanced editing. Take advantage of the Instagram Guide, and even consider going live.
Get Noticed
If you want to increase your followers, growth hack Instagram Story to get seen by more people. There are a few tested strategies such as:
- Tag accounts in your posts. When you mention an influencer in a post, you are increasing the chances for them to share it.
- Link your Instagram profile to your website. This will lead to more organic followers.
- Make Goals. Setting realistic goals every day, week and monthly can help you track progress.
By following these steps, you can become proficient in posting stories on Instagram. Additionally, you can use the available strategies to enhance your presence on the platform.
4. How to Change Your Story Settings
Story settings are an effective way to customize your stories and make them more enjoyable. Here are 4 simple steps to help you change your story settings:
- Choose a Story Mode: Choose from Scenario set-up, Drag and Drop, or Audio mode. Each offers a different way to interact with the story.
- Select Backgrounds: You can choose backgrounds for each scene, or for the entire story. You can also add backgrounds from your own photos.
- Choose Characters: Select characters from the library, or create your own unique characters. You can also personalize each character’s look.
- Set Difficulty Level: Set the difficulty level to suit the age and ability of the user. You can also customize the Text-to-speech settings if desired.
Once you’ve finished changing all the settings, you’re ready to create your story. You can also save your current settings as a template to use for future stories. By customizing your settings, you can make sure that each story you create is perfectly suited to your users.
5. FAQs About Instagram Stories
Q: What is an Instagram Story?
An Instagram Story is an image or video format that users can post on their Story, visible to all of their followers. A Story disappears after 24 hours and unlike normal posts, it can’t be viewed again.
Q: How do I post an Instagram Story?
To post an Instagram Story, you first need to be on the Instagram App. In the top left corner, you will find a square with a plus sign (+). Click on it and you will be able to pick an image or short video from your camera roll, take photo or video, or add a Boomerang clip. Add text and stickers if you would like and press “Share to your story”.
Q: What features are available in Instagram Stories?
Some of the features in Instagram Stories include:
- Upload images and videos
- Include text and stickers
- Take polls and questions
- Live browsing and streaming
- Location tags
Some of the features available in Instagram Stories may vary by version.
Remember that your privacy settings on Instagram stories can be customized, allowing you to choose who can or cannot view them. Make sure to use the feature to protect your content and your personal information.
