What Does “Sort by Default” Mean on Instagram (Complete Guide)

Have you ever seen the following or followers list of somebody on Instagram? There are some users who appear at the top of the list, whereas others have a lower ranking. The order is not just a sequence; there is a whole algorithm behind it. One of the most common sequences on Instagram is “sort by default.” You must have seen this option when you open the Instagram following and followers list. Want to know more about the algorithm behind it? Let us try to understand it with the help of the guide below.

What Does “Sort by Default” Mean on Instagram?

Sort by default on Instagram is the algorithmic arrangement of the followers and content based on multiple factors. It depends upon the engagement level, mutual connections, and recent interactions. With the help of this setting, you can check the content from the accounts that you frequently engage with. Such accounts appear higher in the feeds. When you get new followers, it helps to boost visibility. Additionally, when we focus on engagement level, the visibility of our account is also boosted. 

Sort by default is one of the ways to sort Instagram content. But there are different sorting styles. Let us see how we can sort Instagram following and followers list. 

Also, read How to Give Someone a Nickname in Instagram DMs

How to Sort Your Instagram Followers List? 

There are different factors based on which the follower list is sorted. The followers’ list of new accounts is usually sorted based on the alphabetic order. It is based on the registered full name of the user and not the username needed to log into the account. 

Once your account start getting older and Instagram has relevant data, there is a random sorting done on the list. This sort is dependent upon different reasons like interactions, relationships, and engagement levels. Whenever you check the follower list, they are usually randomly listed. At present, there are some new features that can help you to know which accounts you have less interacted with or get the list of the accounts that you don’t follow back. 

How is the Instagram Following List Sorted? 

The following are different from followers. The following list is the one in which the names of the users you have followed appears on the screen. Whereas followers are the accounts that follow you. The sorting style of the following list is also different from followers.

Generally, when you open the following list, there will be a default style by Instagram. In the default style, the users who have more interactions and more mutual connections will appear at the top of the list. There are two different ways of sorting the following list: either you can sort the list by the users you have recently followed or by the users you have followed earlier. Please note that others can only see your following list depending on the interactions you have with other people. The people who are in mutual connection will appear at the top of the list.

Also, read What Does the Paper Airplane Mean on Instagram?

Factors Affecting the Sorting of the Followers/Followings List on Instagram 

There are a lot of follows that affect the list algorithms. Below are the major factors that affect the sort-by-default metrics:

1. Mutual Followers 

When you are watching someone’s followers list you will see that mutual followers are on the top of the list. Mutual followers are those accounts that follow you and the person you are viewing the account of. It is not important to follow back the accounts that are following you. Even if the person does not follow the mutual followers, they are still gonna be on top of their list. 

2. Mutual Following 

Just like mutual followers, mutual followings are the accounts that are followed by you and the person you are looking for. When you check the following list of a person, the mutual followings will appear on the top of the following list. This helps the users to know the common followings. 

3. Mutual Interaction Data

Interactions are one of the major ways to grow an Instagram account. It includes commenting on the posts, liking them, and sharing them with others. The more a person interacts with another user’s Instagram account, the chances to get them at the top list increase. Suppose the person you are looking at interacts the most with a person B. Person B will appear on top of the list. 

Please note that if there is an account that generally gets engaged with the account of the person you are looking at, but the person does not follow it back, it may still appear at the top of the follower list.

Other interactive tools like direct messages also influence the follower and following list. When a person tags you or both of you are in conversation over direct messages, you both influence the follows and following list. Similarly, if there is a person who is in conversation with the person you are looking at, may appear in the top list.

4. Location 

Another major factor that affects how the following and followers list will be sorted is the Geolocation of the user. The people who are located closer to the city of the person you are looking for will most probably be at the top of the list. Suppose, you are searching for your friend who lives in the US. In such a case most of the people who are located in the nearby area will appear on the top of the list.

If there is a person who is from the same area as the person you are looking for on Instagram, and both of them are in regular conversations,  the chances of getting that person on top of the list will increase. 

5. Popular Users

There are accounts that have Instagram Blue Checkmark. These accounts are very popular on Instagram and have a fan base. Most of the verified accounts appear on top of the following and follower list of the person you are looking at. This is because they have a high search volume and are also populous among private users. 

6. Number of Posts on the Account 

The position of an account on the follower and following list depends upon the number of posts posted on a particular profile. Suppose you are checking the following list of your friends and there are 10 people in the following list. Depending upon the number of posts made by those 10 people, the accounts will appear on the list. Suppose person A has posted 100 posts whereas person B has posted 50 posts, person A will appear on top of the list. 

Also, read What Does ‘Back’ Mean on Instagram Stories?

Conclusion 

Sort by default on Instagram is the algorithmic arrangement of the friends list when someone looks at the following or followers list. It all depends on the engagement level and mutual connections. These metrics also help boost visibility. There are many features that affect the sorting of the list. Some of these features are mutual followings and followers, location, number of posts, etc.

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