In today’s digital world, Instagram has emerged as a dominant social media platform, allowing users to share their lives through photos, videos, and stories. As the platform continues to grow in popularity, expanding social circles on Instagram has become increasingly relevant for both personal and professional connections.
One such tool that aims to enhance users’ experiences by helping them discover and connect with new people is the “Who You Might Know” feature. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the world of Instagram’s “Who You Might Know” and examine its benefits, how it works, and how you can utilize it to enhance your Instagram experience.
Understanding Instagram’s “Who You Might Know” Feature
Instagram’s “Who You Might Know” feature is an innovative built-in recommendation system designed to suggest users on the platform that you may want to connect with.
This feature utilizes a mix of data, such as your existing network, connections, interests, and other social media accounts to identify potential new friends, influencers, and content creators worth exploring. By providing a targeted list of suggested users, Instagram not only encourages users to expand their networks but also enhances the overall user experience.
The “Who You Might Know” feature holds significance in fostering connections and community-building within the Instagram ecosystem. As a powerful social media platform, Instagram thrives on connections and interactions between users.
By suggesting potential connections, this feature enables users to be exposed to new perspectives, inspiring content, and possible networking opportunities. Ultimately, the “Who You Might Know” feature enhances user engagement within the app and promotes the growth of the Instagram community.
The algorithm behind Instagram’s “Who You Might Know” feature takes into consideration various aspects of your digital and social footprint to produce finely-tuned suggestions. Factors such as mutual friends, the interests of people you follow, the type of content you engage with, and other demographic factors contribute to the output of the algorithm.
By analyzing the patterns in user behavior, Instagram is continuously refining its algorithm to provide a more personalized and relevant user experience. As a result, Instagram’s “Who You Might Know” feature can continue to evolve and optimize the platform’s ability to create meaningful connections.
Who are the People Who You Might Know on Instagram?
The “People You Might Know” feature on Instagram includes a wide range of profiles that could be of interest to you. Firstly, the list could contain profiles of your friends and connections. These are individuals you interact with frequently in real life, or perhaps those you are connected with on other social media platforms.
Instagram connects to your device’s contact list and your Facebook (if linked) to make these recommendations. This feature is aimed at bridging the gap in case there’s anyone you know who you haven’t already connected with on Instagram.
Secondly, the feature also suggests the profiles of influencers, celebrities, or public figures that are relevant to your interest areas. If you have a keen interest in fashion and follow several fashion-forward accounts, Instagram might suggest profiles of fashion influencers or designers you are not following yet.
Similarly, if you engage with a lot of content about environmental consciousness, you might find suggestions of profiles related to climate activists, eco-friendly brands, and more. This helps you discover noteworthy profiles that align with your interests, making your Instagram experience more enjoyable and personal.
Finally, profiles linked by mutual connections form a significant part of the “People You Might Know” list. Having many mutual connections with someone on Instagram increases the chances that you know them or might want to.
You’ll find that the more commonly followed friends you have with someone, the more likely they are to appear in your suggested list. This not-only strengthens your current network but can also introduce you to relevant communities or groups that could further enhance your Instagram experience.
How Does Instagram Determine “People You May Know”?
How does Instagram decide who lands on your “People You May Know” list? It primarily relies on a sophisticated method of collecting and analyzing a variety of data points related to your activity.
Instagram uses the contact list on your phone or tablet. When you grant Instagram access to your contacts, it examines the list for other Instagram users. If it finds any, it will typically include these users on your suggested list. The idea here is simple: if you have someone’s contact details saved on your device, there’s a good chance you might want to connect with them on Instagram as well.
If your Instagram account is linked to your Facebook account, Instagram will consider your Facebook friends while generating suggestions. Facebook being the parent company of Instagram, their seamless integration allows Instagram to identify your friends on Facebook who also use Instagram, adding them to your “People You May Know” list.
Instagram pays attention to the people you’ve searched for or viewed on the platform. If you continually look up a particular user or even check their profile again and again, Instagram assumes that you might know that person and might consider adding them to your suggested list. This function accounts for the users you’re currently interested in, enhancing the personalization of your “People You May Know” recommendations.
Lastly, Instagram uses a broad-reaching algorithm that analyzes your activities and interests. It pays attention to the type of content you interact with, the accounts you follow, the comments you leave, and more. By painting a relatively holistic picture of your likes, dislikes, and connections, Instagram can predict and suggest new profiles of potential interest. Therefore, Instagram’s “People You May Know” is an ongoing reflection of your behavior and engagement on the platform.
How to Use Instagram’s “Who You Might Know” Feature
Using Instagram’s “Who You Might Know” feature is straightforward. Follow the steps given below to discover new people who you might want to connect with.
Step 1: Open Instagram App
- First, ensure you have the Instagram app downloaded on your smartphone. If you do, open the app and sign in.
Step 2: Navigate to ‘Discover People’
- Once you are inside the app, from the profile, select the ‘Discover People’ option.
Step 3: Review ‘Suggestions For You’
- Within Discover People, you’ll see a section labeled ‘Top Suggestions.’ This is Instagram’s suggestions of “Who You Might Know”.
Step 4: Navigate through the List
- Scroll through the suggested list of people. You can tap on their profile picture to view more about them. If you find someone you know or are interested in, press the ‘Follow’ button next to their name.
Step 5: Refresh Recommendations
- If you have gone through the entire list, or if you want to see more suggestions, you can refresh the page to generate a new list of suggestions.
That’s it! Remember, Instagram tailors this list based on your contacts, behaviors, interests, and more, so keep exploring and interacting with the content you love to get more personalized suggestions.
Steps to Turn Off “People who you might know are on Instagram” Notification
Turn off Similar Account Feature
To do this:
- Log into your Instagram account on your laptop/PC
- Go to ‘Settings’
- Scroll down till you find ‘Include your account when recommending similar accounts people might want to follow’
- There should be a checkmark in a box against this item, simply remove the check mark from that box
Unfriend Friends on Facebook
If the suggestions are based on your Facebook friend list and you want to avoid this, the ideal option is to unfriend such friends on Facebook.
Delete Phone Numbers
If your saved contacts on your phone are showing up in your Instagram suggested friend list, you can delete these numbers from your phone.
Remove Educational Background from Facebook
To avoid seeing people from your school or college in the suggestions, remove your educational background from the Facebook app.
Unfollow Unnecessary Accounts
If Instagram is showing suggested friends based on mutual friends, you can unfollow unnecessary accounts which will stop these suggestions.
Do note, there isn’t a direct way to disable the “People who you might know are on Instagram” feature in just one step. But the steps provided above should reduce the number of these types of notifications you receive.
Benefits of Using “Who You Might Know”
The “Who You Might Know” feature on Instagram offers numerous advantages for users looking to improve their overall experience on the platform. Let’s delve into the key benefits.
Building Your Social Circle
The “Who You Might Know” feature can help in building and expanding your social circle on Instagram. By suggesting people you may know or have connections with, it encourages you to engage with these individuals, fortifying your network and making your Instagram experience richer and more enjoyable.
Networking Opportunities
Professional networking opportunities can arise from using Instagram’s “Who You Might Know” feature. By being exposed to individuals in your industry or field of interest, you can quickly connect with like-minded professionals, opening up possibilities for collaborations, partnerships, or even new job opportunities.
Discovering New Content
One of the most significant benefits of using the “Who You Might Know” feature is discovering fresh, exciting content related to your interests. By recommending profiles that share content on topics you care about, this smart feature helps you uncover new sources for inspiration, education, and entertainment. In addition, by following these new users, your feed gets enriched with relevant and engaging content that keeps you excited about using the platform.
Keeping up with the Latest Trends
By connecting with new users through the “Who You Might Know” feature, you stay up-to-date with the current trends in your areas of interest. Whether it’s fashion, technology, fitness, or something else entirely, staying in the loop of the latest happenings is essential for personal growth and knowledge. The “Who You Might Know” feature helps you achieve this by connecting you to users who share, discuss, or even shape the trends in your area of interest.
Other Instagram Features that Support ‘Who You Might Know’
In addition to the “Who You Might Know” feature, Instagram has other features that aid in discovering new content and users to follow. Two significant counterparts are the Instagram Explore page and “Suggested for You” tool.
Instagram Explore Page
The Instagram Explore page is like a personalized hub of content that aligns with your interests and engagement history on the platform. While the primary function is to surface new posts, videos, and stories that you might like, it also frequently suggests new accounts for you to follow. Therefore, the Explore page is closely related to the “Who You Might Know” feature as both aim to expand your Instagram networks and interests.
Instagram “Suggested for You”
The “Suggested for You” feature is another powerful tool on Instagram designed to introduce you to new accounts. Often appearing when you follow a new account, the feature presents a list of similar profiles you might be interested in. This allows you to discover users who share content similar to what you’ve just followed, thus continuously expanding your Instagram network and interests.
Just like the “Who You Might Know” feature, “Suggested for You” and the Explore Page bring new accounts to your attention, broadening your Instagram experience by connecting you with new content and users based on your preferences and activities.
Conclusion
In summary, the “Who You Might Know” feature on Instagram plays a vital role in enhancing your overall experience on the platform. By delivering personalized suggestions of new users you may know, it supports expanding your social circle and professional network. Furthermore, it encourages the discovery of new content and trends, keeping your Instagram feed fresh and engaging.
By feeding into your existing interests and activities, “Who You Might Know” facilitates your exploration into like-minded communities and strengthens your network. Integrated with other features like the Explore Page and “Suggested for You,” Instagram consistently enriches your browsing experience and provides insights into the ever-dynamic platform, making Instagram a go-to source for all your social and content needs.