Is Instagram removing its 'Following' tab?

Say goodbye to Instagram stalking 
Not many people used the Instagram Following tab, but those that did used it a lot
S O C I A L . C U T / Unsplash
Amelia Heathman8 October 2019

Instagram is currently on a mission to clean up the platform and is experimenting with different ways to do that, for example removing the 'like' count in Australia and New Zealand.

The latest move in this experiment is the removal of the Following tab. Introduced back in 2011, the idea was that this tab allowed Instagram users to find new accounts to follow. Users access the tab by clicking on the heart icon at the bottom of the app, which takes people into the ‘You’ page – this section shows activity on the app such as when people have been tagged in comments or liked a post.

You can swap this window to the Following tab, which highlighted all the activity of the people you follow, such as being able to see posts they have liked or commented on.

However, Instagram has chosen to remove this feature completely, leaving only the ‘You’ tab, which is now going to be known as ‘Activity’. Instagram says this is because people weren’t really using the feature, yet it was often used to check up on what other accounts were doing, colloquially known as “stalking” on the internet.

An Instagram spokesperson told CNET: “We're always working to make Instagram the best space to connect with the people and things you love. While this includes introducing new features, it also means removing old ones that may no longer be useful.”

At the moment it looks like Instagram is just testing this in the US - the Following tab is still working in the UK version of the app - with a view to rolling it out globally.

The Facebook-owned platform has been making some changes this year in order to remain relevant in this increasingly-crowded social media world. Last week, the company unveiled its new standalone app, Threads, which focuses on its Close Friends list. The new app is camera-first and wants to encourage constant interaction between you and your close friends through disappearing pictures, videos, direct messaging and auto-status updates.

How the new Threads app will look (Instagram )
Instagram

The app’s director of product, Robby Stein, told the Standard that it was working on creating experiences that “are more private in nature”.

Another new feature introduced yesterday is attempting to make the platform safer for users by making it easier to identify phishing emails. A new ‘Security’ tab in Settings will detail all the emails Instagram has sent in the past two weeks regarding account security and login. So if you receive an email that tells you to change your Instagram password, for instance, you can check this tab to see if it is legitimate or a fake.

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