Instagram has come a long way since its launch in 2010. What started as a simple photo-sharing app has evolved into a social media juggernaut with over 2 billion monthly active users worldwide as of 2022, according to Statista. For many people, checking their Instagram feed has become as much a part of their daily routine as brushing their teeth.
As the platform has grown, so too has the pressure to curate a perfect feed and rack up likes and follows. It‘s no wonder then that the thought of unfollowing someone – whether an ex, a fair-weather friend, or just an account that‘s no longer relevant – can feel surprisingly stressful.
"The act of unfollowing someone on social media is often fraught with anxiety," says Dr. Yvonne Thomas, PhD, a Los Angeles-based psychologist. "It can feel like a public rejection or a betrayal, even if the other person is unlikely to notice."
At the same time, holding onto follows that no longer serve you can clutter your feed with unwanted content and potentially even harm your mental health. A 2022 study published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology found that "doomscrolling," or consuming negative news online, is linked to increased symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Luckily, there are several ways to discreetly unfollow an account on Instagram without the other person being any the wiser. In this guide, we‘ll break down the different options, weigh the pros and cons of each, and offer some expert tips for navigating the social minefield of Instagram follows.
Option 1: Directly Unfollow the Account
The most straightforward way to unfollow an account is to navigate to their profile, tap the "Following" button at the top of the screen, and select "Unfollow."
Here‘s a step-by-step breakdown:
- Search for the account you want to unfollow or find them in your feed
- Tap on their profile picture to view their profile
- Tap the blue "Following" button located beneath their bio
- Select "Unfollow" from the menu that appears
- The button should now say "Follow," indicating you are no longer following the account
Directly unfollowing is quick and easy, but there are some potential drawbacks. For accounts you know personally (i.e. friends, family, colleagues), an abrupt unfollow could be seen as rude or hurtful if discovered.
"Unfollowing someone without an explanation is the social media equivalent of giving them the cold shoulder," says Lori Deschene, founder of TinyBuddha.com. "It‘s non-confrontational but it sends a clear message that you‘re not interested in maintaining the connection."
That said, unless the person you unfollow regularly scrutinizes their followers list, there‘s a good chance they won‘t notice a missing follower, especially if they have a large following. Instagram also does not send a notification when someone unfollows you.
Your history of interaction with the account also comes into play. If you frequently liked or commented on their posts in the past, your sudden disappearance may be more conspicuous than if you were always a silent follower. In a 2021 survey, 52% of respondents said they notice when a close friend unfollows them on Instagram.
The bottom line? Unfollowing directly is best reserved for accounts you don‘t have a personal connection with, like brands or celebrities. For people you know IRL, consider a less obvious method.
Option 2: Mute Posts and/or Stories
When you mute an account on Instagram, you remain following them but their posts and stories will no longer appear in your feed. It‘s a good compromise for decluttering your feed without the finality of unfollowing.
Here‘s how to mute an account in a few taps:
- Find a post from the account you want to mute
- Tap the three dots in the upper right corner of the post
- Select "Hide"
- Choose "Mute Posts" to hide their feed posts, "Mute Story" to mute their stories, or "Mute Posts and Story" to hide everything
- Tap "Done" to confirm
You can also mute an account directly from your feed or their profile by tapping and holding on their post or profile picture until the menu appears.
Muting offers several advantages over unfollowing. For one, it‘s completely reversible – you can unmute an account at any time and their posts will reappear in your feed. It‘s also more discreet, as the muted account will not be notified of the change and you‘ll still be listed as one of their followers.
"Muting is a great way to take a break from someone‘s content without the social repercussions of unfollowing," says Tyler J. McCall, an Instagram marketing strategist. "It gives you more control over what you see in your feed without impacting the other person."
That said, muting is not foolproof. If the account shares a lot of feed posts, you may still end up seeing their content if you scroll back far enough. And if you regularly view stories, you may forget you muted an account and wonder why their story never seems to show up.
In terms of impact on the platform as a whole, the rise of muting may be contributing to declining engagement on Instagram, according to a 2022 report from social media management platform Later. "By removing posts from people‘s feeds without unfollowing them, muting can artificially inflate an account‘s follower count while depressing their engagement rate," the report states.
Option 3: Remove as Follower
For accounts that follow you, you have the option to remove them from your followers list without unfollowing them in return. This means their posts will still show up in your feed but they will no longer see your posts.
To remove a follower:
- Go to your profile and tap "Followers" at the top of the screen
- Scroll through your followers list or use the search bar to find the account you want to remove
- Tap "Remove" next to their name
- Confirm by tapping "Remove" in the pop-up window
Removing a follower is a good option if you want to stop someone from viewing your content without the awkwardness of unfollowing or blocking them. Maybe you accepted a follow request from a coworker and now regret letting them see your personal posts, or perhaps you want to distance yourself from an ex without starting drama.
Like muting, removing a follower is reversible and the account will not be notified of the change. However, they may notice that your posts no longer appear in their feed and wonder why. If they visit your profile and see the "Follow" button instead of "Following," they‘ll know they‘ve been removed.
"Removing a follower is a bit of a power move," says Sarah Frier, author of No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram. "You‘re taking away their access to your content without sacrificing your own ability to see what they‘re up to. It‘s a way to maintain the upper hand in the relationship."
Of course, this only works if the person was following you in the first place. For accounts you follow that don‘t follow you back, you‘ll have to use another method like muting or unfollowing.
Option 4: Block the Account
For truly toxic accounts that you want to cut ties with completely, blocking is the nuclear option. When you block an account, you no longer follow them and they can‘t find your profile, posts, or story.
Here‘s how to block an account:
- Navigate to the account‘s profile
- Tap the three dots in the upper right corner
- Select "Block" from the menu
- Confirm by tapping "Block" in the pop-up window
- You will be prompted to unblock or dismiss
- Tap "Dismiss"
Blocking is best reserved for cases of harassment, bullying, or stalking. It sends a strong message that you want nothing to do with the person and cuts off all possible communication on the app.
"Blocking an account is a drastic step," says Leah Rockwell, LPC, a licensed professional counselor. "In most cases, it‘s better to unfollow, mute, or remove the follower if you simply don‘t want to see their content anymore. But if someone is repeatedly crossing your boundaries or making you feel unsafe, blocking is a totally valid response."
One thing to keep in mind is that blocking an account does not prevent them from mentioning you in their posts or comments. If you‘re concerned about an account badmouthing you after being blocked, you may want to make your profile private so only approved followers can see your posts and search for your username.
Can People Tell If You Unfollow Them?
The short answer is: probably not. Instagram does not send notifications for unfollows, muted accounts, removed followers, or blocked accounts.
That said, there are some third-party apps that claim to track follows and unfollows, so it‘s possible the other person could find out through one of those if they‘re really determined. Some users may also notice a change in their follower count and investigate recent unfollows.
But for the most part, unfollowing or muting an account is unlikely to register on the other person‘s radar unless you make it obvious. If you rarely interacted with their posts and they have a lot of other followers, your absence probably won‘t be felt.
The Bottom Line
In the end, there‘s no one-size-fits-all approach to unfollowing on Instagram. The best method will depend on the situation, the account in question, and your own personal comfort level.
If you want to minimize hurt feelings, muting or removing as a follower are the most low-key options. For casual follows you simply don‘t want to see anymore, unfollowing directly should do the trick. And if you need to make a clean break, blocking is always on the table.
No matter what you choose, remember that your Instagram feed is yours to curate. Don‘t feel guilty about unfollowing accounts that no longer bring you joy or align with your interests. As long as you‘re thoughtful and respectful in your approach, you can maintain a healthy, positive presence on the platform.
"At the end of the day, Instagram is a tool for connection and inspiration," says Deschene. "If an account is detracting from that experience, it‘s okay to let it go. Trust your instincts and do what feels right for you."
