In the last few weeks covering different aspects of Instagram, one of the most common questions I came across was, “Who can see my Instagram posts if my account is private,” which surprised me. Because there shouldn’t be much confusion here. Then, when I dug deeper, it became apparent why these questions were coming in from all quarters.
Countless forum posts featured the same query “Someone I’m not friends with liked my picture,” and that too on a private account. Let’s delve into all that, but first, you must understand a few basic things about post visibility on Instagram!
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Who can see my Instagram posts?
If you have a private Instagram account, only your followers can see posts and stories, unless they have been blocked from doing so. A private account also hides your Instagram followers from prying eyes. For a public Instagram account, everyone can see your posts and stories, irrespective of whether they follow you or not.
Besides, for public accounts, people can discover you through hashtags, which isn’t the case with private profiles.
Difference between a Private and Public Instagram account in terms of visibility:
| Private Account | Public Account | |
| Post visibility | Approved followers | Everyone |
| Story visibility | Approved followers | Everyone |
| Discover your posts via hashtags | No one | Everyone |
| Share your posts with others | Your followers unless restricted (non-followers can’t view posts) | Everyone |
| Visit your profile | Everyone | Everyone |
How do non-followers see my posts on a private Instagram account?
Ideally, non-followers shouldn’t be able to view or like your Instagram posts or stories. Instagram’s official page confirms this. But, countless online reports by users point to the fact that this happens from time to time. In my opinion, this is usually due to a glitch in Instagram’s algorithm.
Other possible causes for non-followers viewing your posts include:
- One of your followers shared a screenshot of your post/story. Although, non-followers still won’t be able to like it.
- The accounts you tagged in a story shared it which then makes it visible to all their followers, even the ones that you don’t follow. Although you won’t be notified of any likes on the shared story. It will only be visible to the one who shared it.
- A third-party service exploited Instagram’s vulnerabilities, allowing access to posts/stories on a private account.
Is a private Instagram account really private?
Yes, a private Instagram account is safe and your posts/stories are not visible to non-followers. Having been on the platform for the last 10 years using a private account, I have yet to face any issues regarding privacy or data leaks.
But that doesn’t altogether negate the possibility of it happening to others. Hacked accounts, unapproved data sharing, and likes/comments on posts of a private account by a non-follower have all been reported.
Remember, every platform is prone to loopholes and vulnerabilities that can exploited. So, you must remain cautious of what you share!
Here are short answers to common queries related to post visibility on Instagram:
1. If I follow someone on Instagram, can they see my private account?
They will be able to visit your profile, view the display picture, bio, number of posts, follower and following count, but not the posts or stories. Anyone you haven’t approved as a follower can’t see posts/stories on a private account.
2. If I follow someone on Instagram but they don’t follow me, can they see my posts?
No, users who don’t follow you or whose follow request hasn’t been approved yet can’t see your posts, like them, or leave a comment. These actions are limited to approved followers unless they have been explicitly restricted.
3. Is it possible to see Instagram private account posts?
No, it’s not possible to see Instagram posts of a private account through any approach or workaround. Any app/service that claims to do so is lying. Although occasional bugs and glitches may expose a private account.
4. If I don’t follow someone on Instagram, can they see I viewed their story?
Yes, the user can check the accounts that viewed the story, and your name will be listed, irrespective of whether you follow them or not.
What percentage of Instagram accounts are private vs public?
There’s no official data about the percentage of private and public accounts on Instagram. Some recent reports suggest that the ratio is balanced out, i.e., almost half the accounts are private while the other half is public. Another key insight is that women are more likely to have private profiles compared to men.
I would like to mention here that the percentage of private accounts has witnessed an increase of late, owing to privacy concerns. Besides, teenagers who earlier had a single account now create two, a public profile for the general public and a private profile for their close circle of friends.
You know now the answer to “Who can see my Instagram posts if my account is private,” and other related aspects of post/story visibility on public accounts vs. private accounts.
If you ask me, a private account is the right choice for individuals, while businesses and creators aiming for monetization opportunities should opt for a public account. In case you fall in the latter category, do check out why you shouldn’t boost Instagram posts from the iOS app!
For any queries or to share your insights into how a non-follower can view posts on a private profile, drop a comment below.
