Instagram is one of the most widely used social media platforms, with more than one billion active users throughout the world. That is why, many people would like to maintain their account privacy and often search Google for how to hide your following list on instagram without private account? But, it is quite impossible to do this without blocking the account to maintain privacy about your following list.
Want to keep your Instagram following list hidden? Whether you prefer a bit of mystery or just value your privacy, then you are not the only one..
Let us look deeper into this blog to know how to hide your following on Instagram without private account.
But first, let us learn about why to hide the Instagram account.
Why Hide The Instagram Account?
Sometimes, you might be following competitors’ accounts for research or want to know about celebrity gossip. Whatever the reason, you would like to control your followers list at one point or another. The other reasons for hiding your Instagram following list are as below:
- Privacy Matters:
Social Media often seems like an open book in which your followers are allowed to know about you, far better than you think – your connections, your affiliations, and your interests. By making your account private, you can maintain your privacy and control what others see.
- Professional Reasons:
If you are an influencer, business owner, or any professional, maintaining your privacy will help you maintain a clear Instagram image. It doesn’t let your competitors or viewers analyze your marketing ideas, plans, networks, and collaborations.
- Personal Boundaries:
It is not recommended to make everything public on social media. Sometimes, you don’t want everyone to see whatever you post or your interactions. You can set personal boundaries by hiding your followers list and enjoy Instagram without any worries about unwanted scrutiny.
- Avoiding Judgement:
Everyone likes to follow exciting accounts, but sometimes our interests are not for every person on our follow list. To protect yourself from other people’s judgment, depending on the accounts or posts you follow, it is always better to hide your followers list on Instagram.
Ways To Hide Your Followers List On Instagram
Are you thinking about how to hide your Instagram without a private account? Want to hide your account for the first time and don’t know how to do it? Here are the step-by-step methods that help you to achieve this without much hassle.
1. By Using Instagram’s Built-in Privacy Settings
Though hiding your following list on Instagram is not completely possible, setting your account to private will help you. Here is how you can do it
- Just open your Instagram app and click on your profile image in the bottom right corner of your Instagram page.
- Go to “Settings and Activity” and click on the three lines at the upper-right corner. Scroll below to choose “Account Privacy” under “Who Can See Your Content.”
- In the Account Privacy, toggle the button next to “Private Account.”
Your account is now set to private. Your posts, followers list, and who you follow will be seen only by the selected followers. They need to send you a follow request, and you can choose to accept or deny it.
2. Blocking Individual Account
If you want to hide your following list on Instagram, you can go for blocking the users with whom you don’t want to share your following list. Follow the methods mentioned below to block people.
- Go to the Instagram app on your device, and click on your Profile photo.
- Click on the Following button at the top right corner to get the list of people you are following on Instagram.
- Scroll down the list to locate the user from whom you want to hide your following. Click on the specific user and open their profile.
- Select the three dots at the upper right corner and click on Block in the pop-up menu.
- Click again on the Block to confirm.
You have now blocked the user and hidden your following list from those particular users.
What Happens When You Hide Your Following List?
When you hide your following list on Instagram, it affects the way how other users interact with your profile. Here are some of the effects that we have outlined just for you.
Privacy And Visibility
Hiding your following list would result in:
- Increased Privacy:
This allows only you to view the complete list of users that you follow on Instagram, and other users are unable to view your connections.
- Controlled Visibility:
Even when someone comes across your profile, they can’t be able to see your connections, thereby securing your online presence.
Interaction Impact
Though hiding your following list improves your security, it doesn’t affect the way you interact with others.
- Likes And Comments:
Unless your entire Instagram profile is set to private, you can have more views and likes, and also other users will be able to see your interaction.
- Followers’ View:
Your followers can see that you are following them, but they would not be able to see the entire list of users that you follow.
User Experience:
The user experience is highly unaffected.
- Profile Engagement
It still lets the users view your profile, your posts, and get engaged with your content.
- Notification System
You will still be able to get notifications for likes, comments, and new followers.
Personal Safety
Hiding your following list enables you to have a secure online experience.
- Reducing Harassment
It protects you from unwanted attention and possible harassment from strangers or malicious users.
- Shielding Relationships
It protects your personal relationships and professional networks from public scrutiny.
By following these methods, you can optimize your privacy on Instagram and have a more controlled online presence. You can even make your like count for Instagram reels hidden to make it more private. By this, you can enjoy your social media and gain experience.
Important Tips To Maintain Your Online Privacy On Instagram
Though hiding your following list might be a great choice, there are other privacy settings you need to consider:
- Private Account:
By setting your account as a private one, you have full control over who can see your posts, stories, and other personal information.
- Story Settings:
You can manage your story settings in order to manage who can see or reply to your stories.
- Two-Factor Authentication:
Enabling two-factor authentication provides additional security to your account.
Final Thoughts
When you want to hide your following list on Instagram, it is important to understand your privacy needs because not one solution fits all. By following the above-mentioned strategies, you can have great control over your online presence. Do remember that it is your profile and you can manage it the way you want to make it more authentic and secure.
In this guide, we have covered everything on how to hide your following list on Instagram without a private account.
Enjoy Reading And Don’t Forget To Leave Your Feedback.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why Hiding My Instagram Following List Is Important?
Hiding your following list on Instagram is important as it can allow you to maintain privacy and enjoy hassle-free use of Instagram.
Q2. How Do I Hide My Followers On My Instagram Feed?
Though it is a bit difficult to hide your followers on Instagram Feed, you can still control who can view your stories and posts by adjusting your privacy settings.
Q3. Is It Possible To Follow Someone Secretly On Instagram?
No, it is quite impossible to follow someone secretly on Instagram. When you follow someone, they will get a notification that you are following them. However, you can hide your following list from friends or other people by setting your account as private.
Q4. How To Hide Followers And Following On Instagram From Friends?
If you want to hide your followers and following list on Instagram from your friends, you need to make your account private. Open your Instagram app, select your profile photo, and then click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner and select Account Privacy. Select the toggle button to make your account private.
