Browsing through Instagram and seeing people categorized under “Who You Might Know” can be puzzling. You follow your friend’s main account, so why suggest a second one? Why do you see your best friend’s college mates? Sometimes, you might even encounter someone with no clear connection and wonder why they appear.
Does this mean these individuals recently viewed your profile? There’s an explanation for why these people show up in your Instagram suggestions.
Many users share this curiosity, and while it may seem mysterious, the answer is simpler than it seems. Read on in the blog to uncover the truth.
Does Who You Might Know on Instagram Notification Mean That Was the Most Recent Person Who Viewed Your Profile?
The “Who You Might Know” notification on Instagram can be both intriguing and useful, but it’s not as creepy as it seems. Contrary to popular belief, this notification doesn’t mean that the person who recently viewed your profile is being suggested to you.
Instagram’s algorithm takes several factors into account when curating this list. Essentially, the platform suggests users it believes you may know or have a connection with, aiming to help you follow them if you haven’t already.
While Instagram hasn’t fully revealed how it promotes these users, likely to protect privacy and ensure a user-friendly experience, there are a few factors that influence how the algorithm generates these suggestions.
Read More: My Friend Hasn’t Blocked Me on Instagram But I Can’t Search Their Profile How Can I Fix it?
They are in your contacts.
Many phone contacts are also on Instagram, but that doesn’t mean we follow everyone. However, their phone number is likely linked to their Instagram account. If you see their name appear in the “Who You Might Know” section, Instagram has recognized this connection and notified you.
To avoid seeing such suggestions, you can delete the contact, reject the suggestion, and move on.
You are in their contacts.
You might claim to have found someone in the “Who You Might Know” section even if you never saved their contact details, and while we won’t call you out, there’s another explanation for this.
It’s not just about having their number saved in your phone. If they’ve saved your number, Instagram may suggest a connection between you both. To stop this from happening, you can simply turn off the contact syncing feature on Instagram.
Instagram detects you live somewhere close to them
Many users enjoy sharing their locations when posting photos on Instagram, especially if they’re not frequent travelers and tend to post from their hometowns.
By consistently adding your hometown location to your posts or stories, Instagram learns that you either live there or visit often. If it identifies another user frequently posting from the same location, they may appear in your “Who You Might Know” list.
Even if you stop sharing your location, these recommendations might still appear. This is likely how the system is designed to work.
You are Facebook friends.
If you’ve connected your Facebook and Instagram accounts, there’s a chance that your Facebook friends will appear in your “Who You Might Know” list.
You won’t see their names unless they’ve joined Instagram or you aren’t already following each other. So, don’t worry if you spot your professor in this section. If you prefer they don’t see your account, simply block them and move on.
You have mutual followers.
If you follow two close friends on Instagram and they both enroll at the same university, their new college friend might show up in your “Who You Might Know” section.
Here’s why: If your friends are following their new college mate, that person now shares mutual connections with you—your two best friends. Instagram identifies these shared accounts and suggests you connect, making it easier for you to communicate on the platform.
You were in the same high school.
Here’s another way Instagram might have discovered this information, in case you’re wondering. If you’re Facebook friends and have linked your Instagram and Facebook accounts, Instagram can access details like the schools and universities listed on your Facebook profile.
Many of us include our education history on Facebook, such as the schools we attended and the years we were there. If someone you’re recommended in the “Who You Might Know” section attended the same school or college, that could be why Instagram suggests you connect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the “Who You Might Know” section show the most recent person who viewed my profile?
No, the “Who You Might Know” section does not display the most recent person who viewed your profile. Instead, it suggests people you might know based on mutual connections, interests, and interactions, such as shared contacts, location, or Facebook connections.
Why do I see someone I don’t follow in the “Who You Might Know” section?
Instagram uses an algorithm that looks at factors like shared friends, locations, and interests to suggest accounts you might want to follow. If you share mutual connections or have similar activity on the platform, Instagram may recommend people you don’t follow yet.
Can I stop seeing certain people in my “Who You Might Know” suggestions?
While you can’t fully control the suggestions, you can manage them by blocking users, removing their contact information, or turning off contact syncing in the settings to prevent Instagram from using your phone’s contact list for suggestions.
Why did Instagram suggest someone I don’t know?
Instagram may suggest people based on shared connections or activities, such as mutual followers or locations. If someone you follow interacts with a person or posts from a specific location, Instagram may think you have a potential connection with them.
Does Instagram suggest people based on who viewed my profile?
No, Instagram does not directly show people based on who viewed your profile. The suggestions are generated from a variety of factors, but recent profile views are not one of them.
Can I prevent Instagram from showing me “Who You Might Know” notifications?
You cannot completely turn off these notifications, but you can adjust privacy settings, such as disabling contact syncing or limiting your activity on the platform, to reduce the frequency of suggestions.
Conclusion
Who You Might Know” section on Instagram is not based on who recently viewed your profile. Instead, it suggests users based on factors like mutual connections, shared interests, location, and linked accounts such as Facebook.
While you can’t fully control these recommendations, you can manage them by adjusting your privacy settings, removing contacts, or blocking users. Understanding how Instagram’s algorithm works can help you navigate these suggestions and maintain a more personalized experience on the platform.