Have you ever wondered how Instagram decides the order of viewers on your stories? You may have noticed that certain friends or followers always appear at the top, while others seem to be buried at the bottom.
According to the various sources we explored, which we will discuss more in this post, the Instagram algorithm has a unique way of sorting your story viewer list, influenced by certain interactions. Curious about what these interactions are and how they affect the order? Dive into our blog to uncover the secrets behind how Instagram story viewer order works.
How Are Instagram Stories Viewers Ranked?
Despite what many users believe about the order of story viewers, the ones that appear at the top of the list are not stalkers who view your stories multiple times.
Actually, they’re the accounts that you engage with the most. The Instagram algorithm uses a powerful AI engine that recognizes accounts you regularly interact with (likes, comments. DMs, profile views, etc.). This is similar to how Instagram’s Feed algorithm works, determining your content visibility based on the interactions.
The Reddit team’s experiments tried to figure out the exact system of Instagram story viewer order in 2022, and they came up with two answers:
- If your story has less than 50 viewers, the list of IG story viewer order is chronological; This means the ones who watch your stories first appear at the top.
- Once your story has more than 50 followers, the Instagram viewer list order is no longer chronological; the accounts you have the most interaction with are at the top.
These findings emphasized the earlier insights from Julian Gutman, the product lead for Instagram, who discussed similar aspects with in 2018:
“The people that show up on that list are not the people that stalk you the most; it’s actually based on your activity and the people you’re closest to, Gutman explained. There are a lot of confounding factors: do you visit their profile, like their feed post, comment on their feed post, or view their stories? Do you check the list multiple times? If you [do], [the algorithm] tries to show you a new set of people; it’s trying to give you new information every time you check the list.”
Suggested Post: Top Anonymous Instagram Story Viewers
Why Is Always the Same Person on Top Viewers on My Instagram Story?
Even though there have been some rumors about the people who show up at the top of the Instagram story viewer order list (for example, they might be your stalkers or people who watched your story several times (or even your crush), it turns out that’s not true).
My Crush Appears at the Top of the Story Viewers List on Instagram. What Does it Mean?!
So the top viewers on Instagram stories are categorised into one of the options below:
Who Appears At the Top of Story Views?
1. Your Frequent Interactions
When you engage with some accounts (like, comment, repost their content, or DM them), there is a higher chance for them to go to the top of your story viewer list.
However, if you see someone who you know you don’t interact with often, there must be other reasons for their top ranking:
2. Your Most Engaged Accounts
Top viewers on Instagram stories might be accounts that constantly engage with your account (liking, commenting, or DMing you).
3. Your Facebook Friends
Since Meta owns both Facebook and Instagram, users on these platforms are connected, so there is a higher chance for your Facebook friends to be placed on the top of the viewer list.
4. Your Story Likers
When someone likes your Instagram story, they will move to the top of the story viewer list, regardless of the previous interactions.
Why Is The Same Person Always at the Bottom of My Instagram Story Views?
If you keep seeing the same person at the bottom of your list, it’s because they follow you, but you don’t follow them. Since you don’t follow them, Instagram thinks you’re unlikely to engage with them, so they fall to the bottom.
However, if they start engaging more with your content, even if you are not following them back, they may slowly move up your list of story viewers.
Why Did My Instagram Story Viewer List Change?
If you keep checking who has viewed your story regularly, you’ll notice a new Instagram story viewer order. That’s because the Instagram algorithm tries to show you a new set of people by rearranging your list.
Does the Order of Instagram Story Viewers Matter?
Now that you understand what Instagram story viewer order means, let’s see if this order truly makes a difference and how you can leverage it for your audience targeting strategies and content optimization.
Instagram story viewer order patterns can help you create content that really connects with your audience and boosts conversion rates and sales for business accounts. Let’s see how you can use it in some practical ways:
Finding Potential Customers & Increase Sales
As mentioned earlier, if you see a lot of usernames on the list of your Instagram story viewers that you don’t interact with often, then they are people who engage with you the most. You can get a list of usernames from your potential customers by looking at the order of viewers on your Instagram story and using that information in your Instagram marketing efforts.
Take a look at their profiles to get a sense of what they like, so you can create content that resonates with them better.
Engage With Less Active Followers
No matter where your Instagram Story viewers are on the list, It’s important to keep your target audience engaged. However, when it comes to the usernames at the bottom of the list, engaging them could be a little bit more challenging.
You should analyze their profiles and interests and incorporate them into your content strategy to increase your story views and engagement from them. When your followers are moving up on your list, it means they’re finding value in your content. This can help you deliver more relevant information to them.
As Mari Smith, Facebook marketing expert, social media influencer, speaker, and author says:
“Social media success formula: Content + Engagement + Conversion. Rinse. Repeat.” (source)
Note: If your Instagram story views have decreased, read our blog post on how to get more Instagram story views.
Conclusion
When you understand the Instagram story viewer order, you have more valuable insights into the interactions you have with your audience (mutual interactions). As discussed in this post, the Instagram Algorithm prioritizes the accounts on the top of the story viewers’ list that you engage with the most.
This understanding helps you identify your Instagram story engagement, so you can create content that aligns better and builds a stronger connection with your audience. Keep in mind the ways you can use the Instagram story viewer order patterns when optimizing your instagram presence.
Instagram Story Viewer Order FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions on Instagram story viewer order you might have:
1. Why Are Some Instagram Story Viewers Greyed Out?
If you see some of the viewers’ usernames blurred or dark, this means that you have hidden a story from that person after the person read the story you already posted. So now, he or she is unable to see any of your new stories.
2. If You Rewatch an Instagram Story, Does Your Name Go to the Top?
When you watch a Story, it counts as one view. Repeatedly watching the same Story has no effect on your story views and ranking on the viewers’ list.
3. Can I See Instagram Stories Viewers List After 24 Hours?
After posting your story, you can see who has viewed it up to 48 hours later. On Android and iPhone, you can view it as follows:
- To view your profile, tap the picture in the bottom right corner.
- Tap the three lines in the top right.
- Tap Archive.
- Scroll to the story you want to see viewer info on.
- Tap the story and swipe up on the screen.
4. How Often Does Instagram Update The Viewer Order for Stories?
It’s not clear how often Instagram updates the viewer order for stories. Some users have reported seeing changes in their viewer order after just a few minutes, while others have reported no changes for several hours. The algorithm may update the order based on the frequency and timing of user activity.
5. Can You Tell Who Viewed Your Instagram Story The Most?
The answer is NO, you cannot see who viewed your Instagram story the most. Instagram only provides a list of the users who have viewed your story, but it doesn’t show the number of times they viewed it.
6. Can You See How Many Times Someone Viewed Your Instagram Story?
The answer is no, Instagram does not show how many times someone views a story. If you have been in this situation (watching a story on Instagram again and again!), you need to know that Instagram only shows who watched your story and the total number of story views; there is no such hack to see how many times someone viewed your story on Instagram.
