How to See Who Someone Follows on Instagram

Look, we're not going to judge. Maybe you're wondering who your boyfriend follows. Maybe you're curious about your ex's new connections. Or maybe you just want to see if that person you met follows any of your friends.

Whatever brought you here, you're asking the right question. And the good news? It's totally possible to see who someone follows on Instagram—if you know where to look.

The Quick Answer

If someone's Instagram account is public, you can see their following list directly in the app. Just go to their profile and tap "Following." But if you want to search through that list, compare it with another account, or see who they recently followed, you'll need a better solution.

Method 1: Check Directly on Instagram

This is the most obvious method, and it works fine if you just want a quick peek.

For Public Accounts:

1. Open Instagram and search for the person's username
2. Go to their profile
3. Tap the "Following" number (it's right next to their follower count)
4. Scroll through the list

That's it. You can see everyone they follow. The problem? If they follow hundreds or thousands of people, finding anyone specific is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Instagram doesn't let you search through someone else's following list—only your own.

For Private Accounts:

If the account is private, you're stuck. You'll need to follow them and wait for them to accept your request before you can see who they follow. No way around it.

Method 2: Use an Instagram Following Checker Tool

This is where things get interesting. Tools like DoTheyFollow can show you way more than just a basic list.

What You Can See with a Good Tool:

• Complete following list - All accounts they follow, organized and searchable
• Mutual connections - Who you both follow or who follows both of you
• Recent follows - See who they just started following
• Comparison view - Compare their following list with another account
• Follower insights - See patterns in who they follow

These tools work by accessing Instagram's public data. They're not hacking anything or breaking rules—they're just organizing public information in a way that's actually useful.

What About Private Accounts?

Here's the truth: there's no legitimate way to see who a private account follows unless you follow them and they accept.

Any website or app claiming they can show you private account data is either:

• Lying to get your clicks
• Trying to steal your login credentials
• Running a scam

Don't fall for it. Instagram's privacy settings exist for a reason, and no tool can bypass them without violating Instagram's terms (and probably some laws).

Why Would You Want to See Who Someone Follows?

Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Most people searching for this are in one of these situations:

1. Relationship Concerns

You noticed your partner following someone new, and you're curious (or worried) about who it is. That's completely normal. Trust is important, but so is transparency.

If you're feeling this way, we wrote a whole guide on how to check your boyfriend's Instagram followers respectfully. The same principles apply to checking who they follow.

2. Curiosity About an Ex

We've all been there. You broke up, but you still wonder who they're connecting with now. It's human nature. Just don't let it consume you—that's not healthy.

3. Networking or Research

Maybe you're trying to find mutual connections with someone for business purposes. Or you're researching an influencer's network. Totally valid reasons.

4. Safety Concerns

Sometimes you need to know who someone's connected to for safety reasons—like if you're worried about your teen's online connections or dealing with harassment.

Can They Tell If You Check?

Nope! Instagram doesn't notify anyone when you view their following list. You can look as much as you want without leaving a trace.

However, if you start following or unfollowing people from their list, or if you like old posts while stalking, they might notice. Be smart about it.

Understanding Instagram's Following List Order

People get really confused about this, so let's clear it up:

• Your own following list: Shows newest follows first (chronological)
• Someone else's following list: Ordered by Instagram's algorithm based on mutual connections, engagement, and other factors
• The order changes: It's not static. Refresh the page and you might see different people at the top

So if you see someone at the top of your partner's following list, it doesn't necessarily mean they're the most recent follow or the person they interact with most. Don't jump to conclusions.

Best Practices

1. Have a Conversation First

If you're checking because of relationship concerns, consider talking to your partner first. Sneaking around often creates more problems than it solves.

2. Respect Boundaries

Just because you can see who someone follows doesn't mean you should obsess over it. Everyone deserves some privacy, even on public social media.

3. Use Reliable Tools

If you're going to use a third-party tool, choose one with a good reputation and clear privacy policy. We built DoTheyFollow specifically to be transparent and trustworthy.

What You Can't See (And Why)

Let's set realistic expectations. Here's what's impossible:

• Private account following lists - Unless you follow them and they accept
• Deleted accounts - Once an account is deleted, that data is gone
• Historical data - Instagram doesn't publicly share who someone followed in the past (unless you were tracking it)
• Why they follow someone - You can see who, but not why. Don't assume.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see who someone recently followed?

On your own account, yes—your following list is chronological. For other accounts, Instagram doesn't show this directly, but tools like DoTheyFollow can help identify recent follows by comparing snapshots over time.

Why can't I search someone's following list?

Instagram only lets you search your own following list, not other people's. It's a privacy feature. If you need to search someone else's following list, you'll need a third-party tool.

Is it legal to check who someone follows?

Yes, if the account is public. You're only viewing publicly available information. It's no different than looking at their profile manually.

The Bottom Line

Seeing who someone follows on Instagram is straightforward for public accounts—just tap their "Following" count. But if you want to actually find specific people, compare lists, or get deeper insights, you'll save yourself a lot of time with a dedicated tool.

Whatever your reason for checking, just remember to use the information responsibly. Social media can tell you who someone follows, but it can't tell you the whole story.