How To Hide Followers On Instagram To Maintain a Balance Between Privacy And Engagement?

There are various reasons you want to hide followers on Instagram. You may love to keep your life private, want a more controlled online presence, or do not want to disclose your followers list. By hiding your followers list, you can enjoy an additional privacy layer. It will provide you with a more authentic online experience.

In today’s social media energised era, maintaining privacy is the top concern for many people. The study shows over 80% of users value data privacy and want to enjoy more controlled social media usage.

So, if you are trying to hide your online activity on Instagram, there are various ways to hide your Instagram followers. Read on to learn how you can do it.

However, before diving deep into the various ways to hide followers on Instagram, let us first understand why Instagram privacy should be your top concern.

• Meta, a parent company of Facebook, has a history of privacy breaches. Do you remember that Cambridge Analytica Scandal? It is a reminder that a potential risk is associated with personal data.
• In 2012, Instagram has changed its terms of service. That update implied that Instagram can profit from user’s pics without compensation. Due to the uproar, the company has to backtrack their decision.
• In 2022, Ireland recently imposed approx €405 fine on Instagram for mishandling teenager’s data. It shows that you should ensure your children’s online safety.
• Various scams are occurring these days on social media platforms. Therefore, if you do not want to be its victim, maintaining privacy is a must.
• You should regularly update your password, not share your personal information, and activate two-factor authentication. Practising these cybersecurity tricks can enhance your Instagram privacy.

Also read: Keep Stalkers At Bay By Learning To Hide Online In Instagram

Ways to Hide Followers On Instagram

Although there is no way to hide followers on Instagram completely, there are a few ways through which you can limit who can view your Instagram followers.

Switch to a Private Account – The Simplest Solution

If you want to hide followers on Instagram, the simplest method is to make your account private. Only people to whom you have provided access can see the content when you have a private account. To make your account private, you need to follow the below-mentioned steps.

• Launch an Instagram app -> select Profile. Here, you will see the three horizontal lines. Click on that.
• Now, click on Settings.
• Select Privacy.
• You will see the Private Account toggle option there. Make it on, and you are done. Now, only those you gave access to can see your posts and followers list.

Cons Of Making Your Instagram Account Private

There are many benefits to making your account private; however, you must be aware of its drawbacks.

• Making your account private can hide your followers list from those who do not follow you. However, your existing followers can still view your follower list and accounts to whom you follow. In short, you will not get complete privacy.
• You need to approve each new follower request manually. It can become a consuming process.
• Lastly, making your account private can limit your reach and engagement, as your account will not be searchable by the broader Instagram community.

Create a Close Friend List & Share Content With Them Only

If you want to share more personal or particular stories with your close connections, then Instagram has a handy feature named Close Friend List. Adding people to this list lets you share private moments with close friends. It provides you with more control over your Instagram privacy.

Here are a few steps to create a close friend group list.

• Open the Instagram app. Go to Profile.
• Now, click on three horizontal lines -> Close Friends

• Set your close friends list if you have not created it.

• You need to search for specific users and click the Add button. You can see it next to a specific person’s name.

• Once added, you can remove them by clicking the Remove button. You will not see the green checkmark when you remove a specific person from the list.

You can add or remove anyone from this list without user notifications. So, without worrying, make modifications as per your preferences and connections.

Once you have created a list of close friends, it is time to share content with them. For that, you need to follow the below steps.

• Launch the Instagram app -> click on the camera icon.
• Now, click photo, boomerang, or video, or select available media from your camera roll. For that, you need to swipe up.
• Add any text, stickers, or filters.
• Now, select the Close Friends button. You can see that in the lowermost left corner. Finally, click on Share.

Also read: A Simplified Guide On How To Hush The Distraction With Instagram Quiet Mode?

Remove a Specific User From Your Instagram Followers List

If you want to hide your Instagram activity from a user already following you, you can remove them. Once you remove them, they cannot see your followers because your account is private. Therefore, if they want to see your posts or followers list, they must send you a follow request again.

Follow the below steps if you want to remove a specific person from your Instagram followers list.

• Open the Instagram app -> go to Profile -> Followers list.
• After that, find the user you want to remove from your list and click the Remove button.
• Now, click on Remove again.

Removing someone from your follow list also comes with its own set of drawbacks.

Cons of Removing a Follower

• It can decrease your follower count. It is not advisable if you want to maintain a strong online presence.
• When you remove followers, you will also experience a loss of reach and engagement rate.
• Removing someone can also create a negative impression, as people will wonder why you have removed them without informing them. It can lead to misunderstanding and break relations. So, before removing someone, you need to think about the possible consequences of it.

Also read: 40+ Best Insta Captions To Win Your Follower Hearts

Block a User On Instagram

When you block a specific person on Instagram, they cannot see your followers, posts, or stories. For that, you need to follow the below steps.

• Open the Instagram app and go to the Profile of the person you want to block.
• Now, click on the three dots present at the top right corner.
• Click on the Block.
• Again, click Block to confirm.

This trick is the best option to hide your Instagram activity, including followers, from a specific person or a group of users.

If you are planning to block someone, you must be aware of its drawbacks.

Cons of Blocking Users on Instagram

• When you block a particular user, they cannot interact with you or view your Profile. It can create a misunderstanding as without informing them, you have blocked them.
• Remember, blocking does not mean 100% invisibility. Blocked users can view your profile pic or posts if your Profile is Public. They can log in from the other account and view your posts, stories, and followers list.
• Just like blocked user cannot see your posts, you will also not be able to see their comments or interactions on your stories or posts. In short, it can hinder your experience.

Also read: How To Get Blue Tick Verification On Instagram?

FAQs – How To Hide Followers On Instagram?

Can I hide my Instagram followers from specific people?

No. Instagram does not have such an in-built feature to hide followers from specific users. However, if you want to do it, you can make your account private so the person from whom you want to hide your follower list cannot view your followers/posts.

Can we hide the number of followers?

No. Instagram does not have such a feature. However, you can make your account private and restrict access to your Profile.

Can I hide my Instagram activity from my followers?

You can’t hide your Instagram activity from Instagram followers. However, you can limit that by turning off your Instagram status.

Also read: ChatGPT Vs Google Bard: Which One Is Superior?

Wrapping Up

Hopefully, this article has helped you learn to take control of your privacy on the popular social media platform – Instagram. By following these step-by-step processes, you can enjoy a secure and more private Instagram experience.

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