How Do I Hide My Followers on Instagram?

Want to hide your Instagram followers? You’re not alone.

Thanks to social media, we live in a world where everyone knows what everyone is doing. As one of the most popular social media apps of the year (with 2 billion monthly active users as of January 2024!), Instagram is undoubtedly a favorite among people.

Instagram allows you to do everything from showcasing your life’s most cherished events to sharing your interests with your loved ones. However, this hyperconnectivity also raises privacy concerns. 

Maintaining privacy has become a significant concern for many people who use social media in our digital world, so much so that many have stopped using social media to protect their privacy.

In 2023, 65% of the world’s population’s privacy was protected by privacy regulations, and this figure is expected to rise to 75% in 2024. This is a significantly steep rise from only 10% in 2020. 

This kind of thinking has led social media users to take small steps toward protecting their privacy and ensuring the freedom to post without being tracked. For instance, numerous reasons nudge users to hide their Instagram followers.

For example, you are probably a private person and do not want others to know how many followers you have. You want to share more private thoughts on Instagram, which are not meant for public consumption.

Maybe you want to keep your follower count private and protect their identities. Whatever your reason is, there are many different ways to hide your Instagram followers. 

In this blog, we’ll take you through these ways so you can protect your privacy without having to quit social media. It specifically addresses the question – how do I hide my followers on Instagram? 

But before beginning, let us look at the privacy settings available on Instagram and the pros and cons of hiding followers. This information can help you make a well-informed decision when shifting privacy settings. 

Instagram Privacy Settings

Instagram offers several privacy settings that can help you protect your data and choose who can access your profile. Here’s an overview of all of them:

1. Private and Public Accounts

A public account is visible to everyone, including people who do not use Instagram.

Any Instagram user can follow you and see your activity status and profile information. They can also like and comment on your posts, engage with other users on your timeline, share your posts as stories, and send you a direct message. 

However, a private account is only accessible to users whose follow-request you have accepted. Only your followers can see your posts, stories, reels, and videos and interact with you.

2. Activity Status

Instagram also offers the option to hide your last active status from your followers. The only catch is that you won’t be able to see others’ activity status if you turn off yours. 

3. Restrict Account

If you want to limit your interaction with a follower without blocking or removing them, you can use the restrict account option. This will allow you to hide your online status. Their messages will directly shift from the Direct Messages inbox to the Message Requests inbox.

Hence, they will be unable to tell whether you’ve read their messages or not. Their comments on your posts will also be hidden automatically.

Essentially, you will not be able to receive any notifications about that account, even if they like, respond to, and repost your content. All their activity will stay hidden. 

How to Hide My Followers on Instagram?

There is no direct way to hide all of your followers on Instagram. However, there are three ways to hide your followers to some extent.

Let’s have a look at them.

1. Hide Your Followers: Make your Instagram Account Private

With this method, you can hide your followers from complete strangers on the app. All you have to do is make your account private. This feature allows only people you approve as followers to see your posts, as well as those on your follower list.

Once your account becomes private, a new user who comes to your account won’t be able to see your followers. Furthermore, they will have to send you a follow request. Only once you approve them can they see your followers.

To make your Instagram account private, follow these steps:

1. Go to your profile on Instagram. Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner.

2. Select ‘Settings’.

3. Under the Privacy section, toggle the ‘Private Account’ option. After completing these steps, subsequently, only people you approve of as followers will be able to see your posts and followers list.”

The Drawbacks

Despite its benefits, opting for a private Instagram account comes with its own set of drawbacks that you should be aware of.

• While it does successfully hide your followers from those who aren’t following you, your existing followers will still have the ability to see both the accounts you follow as well as the people who follow you. This might not align with your desire for complete privacy. So, if you want complete anonymity, this option might not be ideal. 
• Another downside is the need to manually approve every new follower request. This can become quite time-consuming, especially if you have a substantial number of followers.
  
  It’s a trade-off between control and convenience: you gain control over who can follow you, but you also have to invest time and effort in approving each request.
• Lastly, the process of making your account private might limit your reach as well as engagement. Public accounts generally have a wider audience and are more discoverable by potential followers. By going private, you’re essentially closing off your profile from the broader Instagram community.
  
  For instance, if another Instagram handle invites you to participate in an Inta Live event, you will not be able to join because your account is private. You will need to change your account settings and make your account public to participate in such a public event. 

2. Remove Users from your Followers List

Let’s say you make your account private, and new users cannot see your follower list.

But what if there are users who already follow you, and you don’t want them to see your followers? The previous trick won’t work on them, as they are already following you.

In this case, you need to remove them from your profile. Once you do this, the user will no longer have access to your profile, provided you’ve made your account private. They will have to send you a follow request again if they wish to access your account.

To remove users from your followers,

1. Open your Instagram profile. Open followers list.

2. Find the user and tap the ‘Remove’ button in front of them.

3. Tap ‘Remove’ again.

The Drawbacks

There are several drawbacks to removing your followers on Instagram. Some of them include: 

• Removing followers can potentially lead to a decrease in your overall follower count. This might not be ideal if you’re aiming to maintain a strong presence on the platform.
• If you remove followers, your post engagement will also suffer. Your followers interact with your posts through likes, comments, and shares. By removing them, you might see a decline in these interactions, affecting your reach and visibility.
• Lastly, removing followers can sometimes create a negative impression. If they are trolling your account or being disruptive, it’s natural to remove them.

However, if they display positive behavior, they might wonder why you’re removing them, and this could lead to misunderstandings or strained relationships. It’s important to consider the potential social consequences of removing followers from your account.

3. Blocking Users on Instagram to hide my followers:

If there are specific accounts you wish to hide your followers from, this option is the best. By blocking a user on Instagram, you hide your account details from them.

The user won’t be able to find your page, send you a follow request, or even send you a direct message, even if they set up fresh accounts that are connected to their existing account. 

To block a user on Instagram:

1. Go to the person’s profile page. Tap on the three dots at the top right.

2. Tap the Block button.

3. Tap on the Block button again to confirm.

The Drawbacks

As you consider blocking users on Instagram, it’s important to be aware of the potential drawbacks this action can bring.

• When you block a user, they won’t be able to view your profile or interact with your posts in any way. However, this might lead to misunderstandings or strained relationships, as the blocked user could feel excluded or puzzled about why they’re blocked.
• Blocking doesn’t always guarantee complete invisibility. If your profile is public, the blocked user could still view your content by logging out or using a different account with no connection to the first account. This might not align with your goal of maintaining privacy from certain individuals.
• Lastly, blocking users might hinder your own experience. You won’t see their comments or interactions on your posts, which could affect the overall engagement and dynamics of your profile. It’s important to weigh these potential consequences against your reasons for blocking someone. Think carefully before blocking a follower while balancing safety and privacy with purpose.  

You can use a third-party app to hide or remove your followers. However, this is not recommended as it is against Instagram’s terms of service and can get your account banned.

Pros and Cons of Hiding Your Followers

Here are the pros and cons of hiding your followers:

Pros

1. Hiding followers protects you from unwanted attention, as unknown people won’t be able to see your follower list.
2. It allows you greater control over the information you share online.
3. Many people equal their worth to their follower count. By hiding your followers, you can eliminate this pressure.

Cons

1. Hiding followers can lead to reduced engagement in your content. This is especially harmful if you’ve made the account for engagement purposes.
2. Your discoverability will also suffer if you hide your followers. 

Why Should Privacy on Instagram Concern You?

Understanding the importance of privacy on Instagram is crucial in today’s digital landscape.

Before tackling the question –  how do I hide my followers on Instagram – here are seven reasons why safeguarding your privacy on this platform should be a top concern for you:

1. Meta’s Privacy Track Record

Instagram’s parent company, Meta, has a history of privacy breaches. The notorious Cambridge Analytica scandal serves as a major example, reminding us of the potential risks associated with our personal data.

Cambridge Analytica participated in one of the biggest known social media data leaks in Meta’s history. They acquired private user data of over 10 million users, and intended to market the psychological profiles of US voters to political campaigns, for profit.

Hence, it is understandable that you want to protect your data.   

2. Past Terms of Service Controversy

Back in 2012, shortly after Facebook acquired Instagram, the platform faced backlash due to changes in its terms of service. The update implied that Instagram could profit from users’ photos without any compensation. The uproar forced the company to backtrack on this decision.

3. Teen Data Mishandling Fine

In 2022, Ireland’s privacy regulator imposed a hefty fine of €405 million on Instagram for mishandling teenagers’ data. This incident underscores the need to ensure your and your children’s online safety.

4. Uncontrolled Instagram Scams

The threat to your privacy on Instagram isn’t limited to Meta’s actions. The platform has become a breeding ground for various scams. Vigilance is essential to avoid falling victim to malicious actors preying on users.

5. Cybersecurity Best Practices

Adopting cybersecurity measures is pivotal. Practices, like regularly updating passwords, activating two-factor authentication, and being cautious about sharing personal information, can bolster your privacy.

6. Virtual Private Network (VPN) Shield

If you want to protect your privacy online, using a VPN is a great option. It helps by hiding your IP address, encrypting your data transfers, and even allowing you to bypass geo-restrictions. This can significantly enhance your online security.

7. Protecting Young Users

As a parent, protecting your children’s online safety is of utmost importance. You must ensure Instagram’s safety of your kids as well as help them navigate­ the digital world while prioritizing their privacy.

To Recap: How Do I Hide My Followers On Instagram?

There is no way to hide your followers on Instagram directly. However, there are three workarounds you can use to answer your question: How do I hide my followers on Instagram?

1. Make your account private.
2. Removing users from your followers.
3. Blocking users.

We have shared detailed steps to use any of the above methods. However, keep in mind the impacts each method can have on your Instagram performance. Therefore, consider the pros and cons well while choosing the best option that works for you. 

Suppose you are building your Instagram profile to grow your business or social influence. In that case, Predis.ai‘s AI-powered content generation capabilities and data-driven analytical approach can support you in your efforts. 

Sign up for Predis.ai today! Manage your social media pages creatively and effectively, and grow your engagement the right consistently.