Navigating the sprawling digital landscape of Instagram can be both exhilarating and overwhelming, especially when you stumble upon an individual whose content captivates your attention. Whether it’s an inspiring artist, a thought-provoking writer, or a culinary genius, the desire to connect with such individuals and witness their creative journey unfolds naturally. Fortunately, Instagram offers a simple and straightforward mechanism to establish this connection: the ability to follow users whose content resonates with you.
Following someone on Instagram opens up a gateway to their digital world, granting you access to their latest posts, stories, and live streams. By tapping into their unique perspectives and experiences, you enrich your own social media experience and expose yourself to a diverse range of content that can inform, inspire, or simply brighten your day. Additionally, following others on Instagram fosters a sense of community and shared interests, allowing you to connect with like-minded individuals who share your passions and aspirations.
However, it’s important to approach the act of following others with mindfulness and respect. While Instagram provides a platform for connection and discovery, it’s essential to remember that the individuals you follow are real people with their own boundaries and preferences. Avoid excessive or inappropriate following behavior, and always prioritize respectful and meaningful interactions within the Instagram community.
Exploring the Search Bar
Instagram’s search bar is a powerful tool that allows you to quickly and easily find the people, hashtags, and locations you’re interested in following. To follow someone using the search bar, simply type their username into the search bar and press enter. If the person you’re looking for has a public profile, their profile will appear in the search results. You can then click on their profile and click the “Follow” button to start following them.
Here are some tips for using the search bar to find people to follow:
Use relevant keywords:
When searching for people to follow, use relevant keywords that describe their interests or profession. For example, if you’re interested in following fashion bloggers, you could search for keywords like “fashion,” “style,” or “blogger.” If you’re looking for people to follow in your local area, you could search for keywords like “local” or “nearby.”
Be specific:
The more specific your search terms are, the more likely you are to find the people you’re looking for. For example, instead of searching for “fitness,” you could search for “yoga instructor” or “personal trainer.” Instead of searching for “travel,” you could search for “travel blogger” or “adventure traveler.”
Use hashtags:
Hashtags are a great way to find people who are interested in the same topics as you. To search for people using hashtags, simply type the hashtag into the search bar and press enter. For example, if you’re interested in following people who love to travel, you could search for the hashtag #travel.
In addition to using the search bar, you can also find people to follow by browsing through the “Explore” page or by checking out the “Suggested” users section on your profile. However, using the search bar is the most efficient way to find specific people to follow.
Utilizing the Profile Nav Bar
If you are unable to find the Follow button in the recommended user’s profile, you can use the Profile Nav Bar to follow them. Begin by navigating to the user’s profile page. Once there, you will notice a horizontal bar positioned beneath the user’s profile picture containing a series of circular icons. These icons represent various actions you can perform on the user’s profile, including messaging, liking, saving, and sharing their posts. To follow the user, simply click on the Follow icon, which resembles a person with a plus sign. A pop-up menu will appear, asking you to confirm your action. Click on the Follow button once more to complete the process and begin following the user.
Here is a step-by-step guide for following someone using the Profile Nav Bar:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Go to the profile of the user you want to follow. |
| 2 | Locate the Profile Nav Bar situated beneath the user’s profile picture, which contains icons for various actions. Click on the Follow icon, represented by a person with a plus sign. |
| 3 | In the pop-up menu that appears, confirm your action by clicking on the Follow button once more. |
Searching by Instagram Handle
Instagram handles are unique usernames that each Instagram user has. To find someone on Instagram using their Instagram handle, follow these steps:
- Open the Instagram app or website.
- Tap or click on the search bar at the top of the screen.
- Type in the exact Instagram handle of the person you want to find. Instagram handles are always preceded by an “@” symbol, so be sure to include it in your search.
- Press Enter or tap the search button.
- A list of results will appear. The first result should be the profile of the person you searched for.
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Open the Instagram app on your phone or computer.
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Tap the search bar at the top of the screen.
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Enter the person’s name or username.
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Advanced Search Options:
Option Description Use quotation marks ("") Include the exact name or username, including spaces Use commas (,) Search for multiple names or usernames simultaneously Add location tags Specify a location to narrow down the search results - If you don’t see a “Follow” button, it means you’re already following the user.
- If the user has a private account, you’ll need to send a follow request instead. Tap the “Message” button and select “Send Follow Request.” The user will need to approve your request before you can follow them.
- Once you follow someone, you’ll see their posts in your Instagram feed.
- Tap on the Story Highlight that you want to follow.
- To the bottom right of the Story, tap the small person icon.
- Tap the “Follow” button to start following that user.
- Tap on the screen to open the video’s controls.
- Tap on the person’s profile picture in the bottom-left corner.
- Tap on the “Follow” button.
- Go to the person’s profile page.
- Tap on the “Follow” button.
- Tap on the search icon in the bottom navigation bar.
- Enter the person’s username or name in the search bar.
- Tap on the “Follow” button next to the person’s profile.
- Tap on the “Explore” tab in the bottom navigation bar.
- Scroll down to the “Suggested Users” section.
- Tap on the “Follow” button next to the person’s profile.
- Open the Instagram DM app.
- Start a new conversation with the person you want to follow.
- In the message field, type the person’s username with the “@” symbol in front of it.
- A list of suggested users will appear. Tap on the person you want to follow.
- The person’s profile will open. Tap the “Follow” button.
If you are unable to find the person you are looking for by their Instagram handle, you can try searching for them by their name or other keywords. You can also use the filters on the search page to narrow down your results.
Searching by Name or Username
Instagram offers multiple ways to find and follow people you’re interested in. One of the simplest methods is to search by their name or username.
To do this:
Following from a Suggested Account List
Instagram provides suggestions for accounts you may want to follow based on your interests and activity. To follow someone from this list:
1. Tap the “Search” icon (magnifying glass) at the bottom of the screen.
2. In the search bar, type “Suggested” and hit enter.
3. Browse through the list of suggested accounts.
4. Tap the “Follow” button next to the account you want to follow.
5.
Additional Details for Step 5:
| Scenario | Action |
|---|---|
| You want to follow multiple suggested accounts simultaneously: | Tap the “Follow All” button at the top of the suggested list. |
| You want to see more suggested accounts: | Tap the “Show More” button at the bottom of the list. |
| You want to unfollow a suggested account you previously followed: | Tap the “Following” button next to the account and select “Unfollow”. |
Following from Explore Posts
1. Open the Instagram app on your iOS or Android smartphone.
2. Tap the magnifying glass icon in the bottom navigation bar to open the Explore tab.
3. Scroll down the feed until you find a post from a user you want to follow.
4. Tap on the post to open it.
5. Tap on the username of the user who posted the photo.
6. On the user’s profile page, tap the “Follow” button.
| Additional Details for Step 6 |
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Following from User Story Highlights
If you’ve stumbled upon an intriguing Story Highlight on someone’s profile, you can follow them directly from that highlight. Here’s how:
Other Ways to Follow on Instagram
In addition to following from Story Highlights, you can also follow users through the following methods:
| Method | How to |
|---|---|
| Search | Search for the user’s username in the Search bar. |
| Suggested Users | Instagram will suggest users to follow based on your interactions. |
| Explore Page | Browse through popular posts and users in the Explore Page. |
| Suggested Accounts in Feed | Instagram may display suggested accounts in your feed based on your interests. |
| Profile Visit | Visit a user’s profile and tap the “Follow” button. |
| QR Code | Use Instagram’s QR code scanner to follow users from their QR codes. |
Following from Live or IGTV
If you’re watching a live stream or IGTV video, you can easily follow the person who’s broadcasting. Here’s how:
You can also follow someone from their profile page. Here’s how:
Following from Search
You can also follow someone by searching for their username or name. Here’s how:
Following from Suggested Users
Instagram will sometimes suggest users for you to follow. Here’s how to follow someone from the suggested users list:
Following from Direct Message
Direct messages (DMs) are a great way to have private conversations with other Instagram users. You can also use DMs to follow someone. Here’s how:
To see a list of steps with images of the Instagram app, see the following table.
| Step | Image |
|---|---|
| 1. Open the Instagram DM app. | [Image of the Instagram DM app] |
| 2. Start a new conversation with the person you want to follow. | [Image of the new conversation screen] |
| 3. In the message field, type the person’s username with the “@” symbol in front of it. | [Image of the message field with the person’s username typed in] |
| 4. A list of suggested users will appear. Tap on the person you want to follow. | [Image of the list of suggested users] |
| 5. The person’s profile will open. Tap the “Follow” button. | [Image of the person’s profile with the “Follow” button highlighted] |
Following from a Third-Party App
If you’re not a fan of the Instagram app’s interface or want more advanced features, you can use a third-party app to follow people on Instagram.
Here are a few popular options:
The first step is to find a third-party app that you like. There are many different options available, so you can choose one that fits your needs and preferences.
Once you have found an app that you like, you can download it and install it on your device. Most third-party apps will require you to create an account before you can use them.
Once you have created an account, you can log in to the app and start following people. To follow someone, you can either search for their username or enter their profile URL into the app.
Once you have followed someone, you will be able to see their posts in your feed. You can also like, comment on, and share their posts.
Here is a table comparing some of the most popular third-party Instagram apps:
| App | Features |
|---|---|
| Hootsuite | Schedule posts, track analytics, manage multiple accounts |
| Buffer | Schedule posts, track analytics, collaborate with team members |
| Later | Schedule posts, visually plan your feed, track analytics |
| Sprout Social | Schedule posts, track analytics, manage customer relationships |
| Tailwind | Schedule posts, track analytics, collaborate with team members |
How To Follow Someone On Instagram
To follow someone on Instagram, simply go to their profile and tap the “Follow” button. You can also follow someone by searching for their username in the search bar and tapping on their profile picture. Once you follow someone, their posts will appear in your feed. You can also choose to receive notifications when they post something new.
If you follow someone who has a private account, they will need to approve your request before you can see their posts. To request to follow someone with a private account, tap on the “Follow” button and then tap on the “Request” button.
You can also unfollow someone at any time. To unfollow someone, simply go to their profile and tap on the “Following” button. Then, tap on the “Unfollow” button.
