Do you ever wonder when you started following someone on Instagram? Maybe you want to know how long you’ve been following your favorite influencer or when you first started following your new crush. Whatever the reason, finding out when you followed someone on Instagram is a simple process that can be done in just a few steps.
Finding Out When You Followed Someone
There are multiple ways to find out the date you started to follow your friend.
Method 1. Using Instagram App
- Navigate to the profile of the person you want to check.
- Once you’re on their profile, tap on the “Following” button located right next to their username.
- This will bring up a list of all the accounts you follow in alphabetical order.
- Scroll down until you find the person you’re looking for and check the date next to their name.
- This date represents when you started following them on Instagram.
It’s important to note that this date may not be accurate if you’ve unfollowed and refollowed the account at any point. In that case, the date will only reflect when you most recently followed them.
Method 2. On Instagram Website on Computer
If you are accessing Instagram on a computer, the process is slightly different.
- Go to the Instagram website and log in to your account.
- Once you are logged in, you will be taken to your profile page.
- Here, you can see all the posts you have shared, your followers, following, and other details about your account.
- To find out when you followed someone, you need to click on the “Following” button.
- This will take you to a list of all the accounts you are following. You can scroll down to find the name of the person you are interested in.
- Once you find their name, you can hover your cursor over it to see when you followed them. The date will be displayed in a pop-up box.
Method 3. Reviewing Likes
Another way to find out the date of following is by analyzing your interaction with a user such as the likes and comments you have made on their posts.
- Go to their profile and scrolling through their posts.
- Look for posts that you have liked or commented on, and note the date of the post.
- If you remember liking or commenting on a specific post, you can also use the search function on Instagram to find that post.
- Simply type in a keyword or phrase from the post, and Instagram will show you all the posts that match that search term.
Method 4. Reviewing Direct Messages
- Look for messages that you have sent or received from the user, and note the date of the message.
- You can also use the search function on Instagram to find specific messages.
- Simply type in a keyword or phrase from the message, and Instagram will show you all the messages that match that search term.
Method 5. Using Instagram Analytics
Instagram Analytics is a powerful tool that allows you to track your performance on the platform. One of the things you can do with Analytics is view your follower growth over time. Here’s how to use Analytics to find out when you followed someone:
- Open the Instagram app and go to your profile.
- Tap the three lines in the top right corner and select “Insights.”
- Scroll down to the “Audience” section and tap “Followers.”
- Here, you can see a graph of your follower growth over time. Look for any spikes or dips in the graph that correspond to when you may have followed someone.
While this method isn’t foolproof, it can give you a good idea of when you followed someone. Keep in mind that you’ll need to have an Instagram Business or Creator account to access Analytics.
Method 6. Downloading Your Instagram Data
You can find out when you followed someone on Instagram by downloading your data from the platform. Instagram allows you to download a copy of all the data they have on you, including your activity data. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to your Instagram profile and tap the three lines in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings” and then “Security.”
- Scroll down and tap “Download Data.”
- Enter your email address and password, and then tap “Request Download.”
- Instagram will send you an email with a link to download your data. Follow the instructions in the email to download the file.
- Once you’ve downloaded the file, open it and look for the “Connections” folder. Inside this folder, you’ll find a file called “follows.json.”
- Open the “follows.json” file in a text editor and search for the username of the person you’re trying to find. The file will show you the date and time you followed that person.
Keep in mind that downloading your data can take up to 48 hours, and the file can be quite large depending on how much data you have on Instagram. However, this method will give you the most accurate information about when you followed someone.
Method 7. Third-Party App
You can also use a third-party app. There are several apps available that can help you track your Instagram activity, including your follow history. Some popular options include “Followers & Unfollowers,” “FollowMeter,” and “InReports.” Keep in mind that using third-party apps can come with risks, such as compromising your account security or violating Instagram’s terms of service. Be sure to do your research and choose a reputable app if you decide to go this route.
Understanding Instagram’s Following Dynamics
If you are wondering how to find out when you followed someone on Instagram, it helps to understand the basics of Instagram’s following dynamics.
The Basics of Following and Followers
When you follow someone on Instagram, you are essentially subscribing to their content. This means that their posts will show up in your feed, and you will also be able to see their stories and other updates. Additionally, if the person has a public account, you will be able to see their followers list and who they follow.
On the other hand, when someone follows you on Instagram, they are subscribing to your content. This means that your posts will show up in their feed, and they will be able to see your stories and updates. If you have a public account, they will also be able to see your followers list and who you follow.
Private vs. Public Accounts
One important factor to consider when it comes to following dynamics on Instagram is whether an account is public or private. If an account is private, only approved followers will be able to see the person’s posts and updates. Additionally, only approved followers will be able to see the person’s followers list and who they follow.
If an account is public, anyone can see the person’s posts and updates. However, the person can still choose to approve or deny followers. If you are trying to figure out when you followed someone on Instagram and their account is private, you will need to be an approved follower in order to see their followers list and determine when you followed them.
Conclusion
In this article, you have learned how to find out when you followed someone on Instagram. By accessing your activity log, you can see the exact date and time you followed a user. This feature can be helpful if you want to keep track of your Instagram activity or if you want to unfollow someone you followed a long time ago.
It is important to note that the steps to access your activity log may differ depending on the device you are using. However, the general process remains the same. You can also remove or share your activity log with others if you choose to do so.
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