How to Review Followers and Following Lists (and Spot Fake Followers)
Quick answer
Followers and following lists reveal an account’s audience, interests and growth method. Clues such as profile photo, post count and account type tell you how genuine the audience is.
What the following list tells you
The accounts a person or brand follows show what inspires them, who their competitors are and who they work with. If a restaurant keeps following chefs and suppliers, you are looking at its professional network.
What the follower list tells you
It describes the audience: individuals or brands, local or international. Opening a handful of profiles gives you a good feel for what the audience cares about.
Signs of fake or inactive followers
- No profile photo
- No posts at all
- Usernames made of random letters and digits
- Profiles that follow thousands but have almost no followers
None of these is proof on its own, but a high share is worth noticing.
The limits of the lists
Instagram may not show the full list for very large accounts, and the order is not fixed. The list Shadowly shows on the free plan is also only part of the whole, and the interface tells you how many entries are hidden. Treat the results as a sample.
A quick reminder
Looking at public lists is fine. Using that data to profile, harass or share people’s information without consent raises ethical and legal problems.
Frequently asked questions
Is the follower list always complete?
Not always. On large accounts and on the free plan the list can be partial.
Can I see who unfollowed me?
Shadowly shows only the current public lists and does not compare against the past.
