If you're wondering what the term “follow-up” means on Instagram, you've come to the right place. Short answer: the followed corresponds to number of people (or accounts) you follow on social media. This number appears directly on your profile, next to your posts and your followers.
Be careful not to confuse this term with “followers“. The difference is simple: your subscribers (followers) are users who have chosen to follow your account to see your content, while “followed” refers to the accounts you have decided to follow yourself. In short, following someone (follow) lets you see their photos, videos, and captions in your news feed.
“Followers” refers to the number of people you follow on Instagram.
On Instagram, the term “follow-up” (or “followed”) simply refers to the number of accounts you follow on this social network. It is the opposite of followers (followers), which is the number of people who follow you. From your profile, you can see this number at the top of the page:
In practical terms, your news feed is populated with photos and videos from the accounts you follow. The same goes for someone else’s account: when you visit their profile, you’ll see the number of people they follow (follow) on the platform. You can also View someone's most recent follows on Instagram check out our dedicated article.
On this social network, your “followers” generally include:
- people you know, such as your friends and family,
- influencers who share their daily lives and activities (fashion, beauty, travel, etc.),
- brands and companies that promote their products,
- Theme-based accounts chosen based on your interests (cooking, travel, sports, etc.).
If you're curious, you can also find out if someone is following you on Instagram by reading our article on this topic.
Follow-up vs. Followers The difference?
There is often confusion between the terms “suivi(e)s” and “followers” on instagram, yet they don't quite mean the same thing. Understanding this difference will help you better understand your profile and know who sees your content. To learn more about the terminology, check out our article on What does "followers" mean?.
- Followed by : These are the accounts you follow on Instagram. In other words, these are the posts, photos, and videos from these accounts that appear in your feed. This number reflects your own browsing activity on the social network.
- Followers (subscribers) : These are the people who follow you—that is, who are subscribed to your Instagram account. They see your photos and posts in their own feed. The number of followers gives you an idea of your visibility and audience on the platform.
In short: “people you follow” refers to the people you follow; “followers” refers to the people who follow you. On your profile page, these two numbers are displayed side by side, right below your name. This is a term that’s also used on other social media platforms such as Facebook, where the logic remains the same.
Remark : If you want to follow specific creators or influencers, be careful with fake Instagram accounts. Feel free to check out our article to learn how to spot them and maintain a healthy community.
Why do users follow each other on Instagram?
On that note social network, Following an account is a simple action that serves several purposes. Here are the main reasons why users follow each other:
- Discover new content : Find new ideas, photos, and videos that match your interests.
- Stay informed day by day : See posts from friends, family, and accounts that matter to you right in your News Feed.
- Interact with a community : Like, comment on, and share posts to drive engagement.
- Supporting designers and brands : Following your favorite influencers or a company helps raise awareness of their work and encourages them to post high-quality content.
In summary: “followed” refers to the accounts you follow, “followers” refers to the people who follow you, and following an account is primarily a way to discover content and engage with a community. To learn more, check out our tips for get more followers on Instagram.
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