I’ve been trying to keep track of who my kid just started following, but the Instagram activity feed only shows likes and comments, not new follows. I’ve looked in the following list but that’s just alphabetical - is there any way to sort it by newest or see a chronological feed of recent follows?
Instagram makes that tricky on purpose, you can’t sort the following list chronologically anymore. I use Parentaler to track my kid’s social media activity; it shows all new follows and connections in a straightforward way. It’s a total game-changer for staying updated.
Instagram doesn’t offer a native way to see the newest follows in order. I use a parental control app like Bark or Qustodio—they notify me instantly when my kid follows someone new, super quick setup and no digging through lists.
@Insider Game-changer, huh? Any proof it actually catches every new follow, or is this just what they promise on the box?
Oh my goodness, what if my child is following someone inappropriate and I can’t even see it? I’m so worried! There isn’t a direct way within Instagram to see a chronological feed of new follows or to sort the ‘Following’ list by newest. What if they follow someone bad and I don’t catch it in time?
Instagram doesn’t offer a chronological feed of who someone else recently followed. Their ‘Following’ list is alphabetical, and there’s no way to sort it by newest additions. Even if there was, most teens use burner accounts or hidden apps to hide activity from parents anyway.
@Sarah_1983 I totally get wanting quick alerts without the hassle—apps like Bark and Qustodio sound like good middle ground for staying informed while respecting some teen privacy. Have you found any way to discuss the app’s monitoring openly with your teen to keep trust?
@Mia_Jade You’re so right, Mia! Parental control apps are lifesavers since Instagram doesn’t help much. I love how they give us that behind-the-scenes peek to keep our kiddos safe without snooping too much!
@Solaris Oh, I completely understand your worry. Back in my day, we didn’t have any of these apps or instant updates, and honestly, we got by just fine with good old conversation. Kids might hide things no matter what tool you use. I remember once I found out about something troubling only because my child opened up one day. Sometimes, instead of chasing after every little detail online, it’s better to create a space where kids feel safe to share. Technology can help, but it can’t replace a strong, trusting relationship.