Do most people check who watches their Instagram stories?

[Anonymous]

I sometimes check. I have no idea what others do.

[Anonymous]

I don’t use instagram. I have fb bc I’m older—than-my-years on social media and had no idea people could see when I view their instagram stories on fb. Half the time they pop up in my feed as I’m scrolling and I'm unintentionally watching their story. Oh well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So I used to never post stories, I never understood why anyone would, I was like these things disappear after 2 days so if the point is to share a picture of your kids to friends/family who you almost never see, why would you do it in a way where it disappears in 48 hours? What if your friends/ family just didn't check social media in those couple of days?

Then one day I posted one, just because I never had, because I wanted to put a cute effect on a picture since I'd also never done that before (yes, I know I sound old). And I realized an hour later that I could see everyone who had viewed it, and I felt so dumb for realizing that OF COURSE this is why everyone posts stories instead of regular posts. And it made me realize how unhinged some people in my peripheral social circle are because they post new stories every single day!

Also I don't think I have a lot of control over whose stories I view and whose I don't, because I just flip through them mindlessly one by one. So I'm sure there are some high school friends from 20 years ago who think I'm stalking them when in reality, their stories just always populate in my little line of stories at the top of my FB app that I scroll through as I'm on the toilet every morning. Only like 20 "friends" ever populate on my stories list, I'm not sure why FB chose those particular people for me, but they did. So I guess people really shouldn't read that much into who viewed it and who didn't.

Thank you for sharing this. I don't post stories or look at them. I had no idea they disappeared or that people can see who viewed them. Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good lord, this thread makes me feel old and very sad for all of you.

In what way? I posted that I never even look at people’s stories. Others posted similar disinterest.
How does this make you feel sad?

[Anonymous]

What are instagram stories? That different from regular pictures/posts?

[Anonymous]

I put my political reposts in stories generally and leave the feed for general stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are instagram stories? That different from regular pictures/posts?

Yes, they are are temporary pictures, videos, or slide shows that are available for a short while and then disappear. So like Snapchat, but on Instagram, if that means anything to you.

On my app, they appear at the top of the feed as little circles. If I click on one, they will autoplay all of them until I exit out of them.

You can also see someone's "current stories" by clicking their profile picture in their profile (if they have an active story, the profile picture has kind of a light up outline). So that's how you can view stories of people you don't follow. But only if their profile is public (you can view stories on private profiles only if you follow them, just as with posts).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are instagram stories? That different from regular pictures/posts?

Yes, they are are temporary pictures, videos, or slide shows that are available for a short while and then disappear. So like Snapchat, but on Instagram, if that means anything to you.

On my app, they appear at the top of the feed as little circles. If I click on one, they will autoplay all of them until I exit out of them.

You can also see someone's "current stories" by clicking their profile picture in their profile (if they have an active story, the profile picture has kind of a light up outline). So that's how you can view stories of people you don't follow. But only if their profile is public (you can view stories on private profiles only if you follow them, just as with posts).

Ah! Thanks for the explanation. Been forever since was on instagram.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good lord, this thread makes me feel old and very sad for all of you.

I actually think it's useful info. I was a very casual, sometimes user of Instagram (never really posted but would sometimes scroll both posts and stories). I was really surprised to find out that people can see who has viewed their stories. I remember feeling kind of embarrassed when I found out, because I'd definitely randomly scrolled the profiles/stories of colleagues and acquaintances who probably thought it was weird I was looking at them. I wasn't stalking them or anything, but I'd random click through profiles just to see. I figured if it was a public profile, the whole point is that they are okay with people looking? But if people track who looks at their stories, I feel they could read more into that than I meant by it.

So it's a good PSA to people, especially people who don't use Instagram much and might not know. Don't go looking at your boss's stories unless you're okay with them knowing you looked!

[Anonymous]

Yes of course

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know someone who ONLY posts stories so she can keep track of who is keeping track. And she's in her 40s so it's particularly tragic.

Or she only posts stories because they disappear. Almost everyone I know exclusively posts stories. Nobody does pictures anymore.
-Inmy40s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only use TT now. IG feels outdated and I stop remembering to even open it several months back. Deleted FB a few years ago.

I am 48, BTW.

Cringe, you're too old for TikTok. Nobody calls it TT, just stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know someone who ONLY posts stories so she can keep track of who is keeping track. And she's in her 40s so it's particularly tragic.

Or she only posts stories because they disappear. Almost everyone I know exclusively posts stories. Nobody does pictures anymore.
-Inmy40s.

Keep believing that.
They are simply archived and stored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good lord, this thread makes me feel old and very sad for all of you.

I actually think it's useful info. I was a very casual, sometimes user of Instagram (never really posted but would sometimes scroll both posts and stories). I was really surprised to find out that people can see who has viewed their stories. I remember feeling kind of embarrassed when I found out, because I'd definitely randomly scrolled the profiles/stories of colleagues and acquaintances who probably thought it was weird I was looking at them. I wasn't stalking them or anything, but I'd random click through profiles just to see. I figured if it was a public profile, the whole point is that they are okay with people looking? But if people track who looks at their stories, I feel they could read more into that than I meant by it.

So it's a good PSA to people, especially people who don't use Instagram much and might not know. Don't go looking at your boss's stories unless you're okay with them knowing you looked!

If you are friends with someone on social media, why wouldn't you be looking?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only have a business account and I do. I used to be offended if industry friends didn’t interact, but now that I’ve watched more stories myself, I get it. They just don’t inspire reactions the same way posts do for some reason. They seem more passive .

And maybe more so for younger people. I became friends with my nephew. I was liking his stories and DS told me that is lame and you are only supposed to like really important stories. I don’t get it but that’s what he said.