There are many mysteries in the universe; some are small and inconsequential, while others are of great importance. Then there are some mysteries that are subtle yet of great importance, small but quite consequential. Instagram’s algorithms fall into this category. We bump into these algorithms every day. In fact, we are part of these seemingly complex algorithms. Instagram Suggestions- a product of the platform’s algorithms- are one example.
Despite the increasing digital awareness among people, the way these suggestions work remains a mystery to most of us. It’s about time the cloud over these suggestions started getting lifted.
So, we prepared this blog for you so you can better understand how suggestions on Instagram work. Do you think searching for someone on Instagram makes you appear as a suggestion on their profile? We will answer that question and explain some other tips on Instagram suggestions.
This blog is going to be interesting, so make sure to read till the end to learn some important facts about suggestions. Let’s get started.
Quick facts about Instagram suggestions: How they work
Instagram suggestions might seem too confusing to understand. But in reality, they aren’t as complex as they seem.
Like all other features on the platform, Instagram suggestions have a purpose: to connect you with people you might want to connect with. In other words, the people you see in your suggestions are people Instagram thinks you might know.
Now, a host of factors can decide which people appear as your suggestion. Instagram uses various factors such as the people you follow, the posts you like, people who are in your contacts, mutual followers, and so on to decide which people should appear in your profile as suggestions.
The most important thing to note is this- Instagram wants you to connect with people you might want to connect with. Any suggestions that might show up result from the algorithm that is forever tracking and analyzing the users’ activities and matching them based on shared interests.
Some factors that influence suggestions:
Here are some factors that influence your Instagram suggestions:
People you follow: The people you follow are a major role in shaping your suggestions. A significant portion of your suggestions list contains people who are followed by the people you follow.
Naturally, you are highly likely to know people who know the people you follow; hence it makes sense why they appear on your account.
Your contacts: If you have synced your phone’s Contacts with your Instagram account, they will certainly show up on your profile. After all, this is the main purpose of connecting your Contacts with Instagram.
Facebook friends: Instagram and Facebook are intricately related. Your Facebook friends, and even friends of friends, can show up on your Instagram profile.
Reels you watch: If you consistently watch and like the reels of a particular Instagrammer, the user might appear on your profile.
Posts you have liked or commented on: Based on the posts you have liked or commented on, Instagram can show you the profiles of users who post similar content. You can also see post suggestions in this way.
People you search for: If you have searched for a user multiple times in the past, the user might appear as a suggestion on your account.
After reading these, much of the workings of Instagram suggestions might have become clear. Many other factors are not evident and remain a mystery. Nevertheless, it’s time to answer your original question now.
If I Search for Someone on Instagram Will I Be Suggested?
On the basis of what we have discussed about Instagram suggestions so far, one thing might have become apparent- Instagram suggestions are largely based on what you do rather than what others do.
However, the core purpose of suggestions remains what we have already discussed: to connect you with people you might be interested in. And while this purpose is mostly achieved by showing suggestions based on your activity, suggestions can sometimes come from the activities of others, too.
Therefore, while you might not be suggested to each person you search for, the algorithm can take into account repeated similar activity from the same account.
In other words, YES, you can be suggested to a user if you search for them or visit their profile repeatedly in what the algorithm considers a relatively short period.
Now, if you have been visiting someone’s profile for some time now, you might be wondering if there is a way to opt-out of being suggested on other people’s profiles. Well, the answer, to your benefit, is a big YES.
Do this to stop getting suggested on Instagram
You can turn off profile suggestions for your Instagram account, which will also prevent your account from appearing as a suggestion. Follow these steps to turn off similar account suggestions:
Step 1: Log in to your Instagram account from a mobile browser by going to https://instagram.com/account.
Step 2: Head to your profile page by tapping on your profile picture at the bottom-right corner.
Step 3: Tap on the Edit Profile button below your username near the top of the page.
Step 4: Scroll down through the Edit Profile page to find the Similar Account Suggestions subheading at the bottom.
Step 5: Uncheck the box next to Include your account when recommending similar accounts people might want to follow.
Step 6: Tap on the Submit button to save the change.
Final words
Instagram suggestions seem a mystery as far as their workings are concerned. While these suggestions are intended to help users find people they might want to connect with, many do not know how these algorithms match users with one another.
In this blog, we have tried clarifying the mystery around these suggestions by discussing some factors that shape them. We have also explained whether searching for someone can make you appear as a suggestion on their profile and how you can avoid getting suggested.
What did you think of this blog? Tell us in the comments. Share this blog with your friends, so they also know the mysteries behind Instagram suggestions.
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