On Instagram, there are two ways to connect with others: following and being friends. While they may seem similar, there are distinct differences between the two. Let’s delve into the details.
1. Connection Approval:
When it comes to being friends on Instagram, both parties need to accept each other’s friend requests. This means that before becoming friends, you have to send a request and wait for the other person to accept it. On the other hand, following someone does not require approval. You can simply click on the “Follow” button next to their profile, and you will start seeing their posts in your feed.
2. Mutual Connection:
Once you become friends with someone on Instagram, a mutual connection is established. This means that you and your friend can see each other’s posts, stories, and other activities on the platform. Moreover, friends will also show up in your network on the community, which can help you discover more content and connect with others who have similar interests. In contrast, when you follow someone, they automatically become your follower. However, they do not have access to your posts unless they also follow you back. Followers will not show up in your network on the community.
3. Privacy and Visibility:
When it comes to privacy, being friends on Instagram allows for more control over who can see your posts and interact with them. You can choose to set your account to private, limiting the visibility of your content to only approved friends. This means that if someone wants to see your posts, they have to send you a friend request and be accepted. On the other hand, when you follow someone, they can see your posts and interact with them, unless you have set your account to private.
4. Content Accessibility:
When you become friends with someone on Instagram, you have access to each other’s full profiles, including their posts, tagged photos, and other personal information. This can give you a more comprehensive view of their online presence. However, when you follow someone, you only have access to their posts, stories, and highlights. You do not have access to their tagged photos or personal information unless they have made it public.
5. Engagement and Interaction:
Being friends on Instagram implies a closer relationship and often leads to more engagement and interaction. Friends can like and comment on each other’s posts, send direct messages, and even go live together. This level of connection fosters more meaningful interactions. On the other hand, followers can only like and comment on your posts, but they cannot send you direct messages unless you follow them back.
The main differences between following and being friends on Instagram lie in the approval process, mutual connection, privacy settings, content accessibility, and level of engagement. Friends require mutual acceptance, have more visibility and access to each other’s content, and can engage in various activities together. Followers, on the other hand, do not need approval, have limited access to your content unless they are also followed back, and have fewer engagement options.