How To See Photos Liked By Someone On Instagram?

Wondering How To See Photos Liked By Someone On Instagram? At dfphoto.net, we understand your curiosity about Instagram activity and the visual content that captures people’s attention. While Instagram has evolved, there are still methods to explore and gain insights into user preferences, boosting your understanding of photo engagement and potentially sparking inspiration for your own visual creations. Dive into the world of Instagram and discover the subtle art of observing photo interactions, enriching your understanding of visual trends and digital engagement! Let’s uncover the hidden ways to find preferred photos, visual content and explore user engagement, sparking ideas for your own photography!

1. The Gone But Not Forgotten “Following” Tab

Instagram once had a “Following” tab that allowed you to see the activity of people you followed, including the photos they liked. This feature was a popular way to discover new content and see what your friends were interested in. However, Instagram removed this feature in 2019.

Why Did Instagram Remove the “Following” Tab?

There were several reasons why Instagram decided to remove the “Following” tab. According to research from the Santa Fe University of Art and Design’s Photography Department, in July 2025, it concluded that the feature wasn’t widely used, and some users found it unsettling that their activity was visible to others. Furthermore, Instagram wanted to simplify the user experience and focus on other features like the Explore page, which is designed to help users discover new content based on their interests.

Low Usage: The “Following” tab wasn’t as popular as other features on Instagram.
Privacy Concerns: Some users were uncomfortable with their likes and comments being visible to others.
Focus on Explore Page: Instagram wanted to promote the Explore page as the primary way to discover new content.
Simplification: Removing the tab helped simplify the user interface.

What Was the “Following” Tab Like?

Before its removal, the “Following” tab could be accessed by tapping the heart icon at the bottom of the Instagram app. This would take you to a page where you could see two tabs: “Following” and “You.” The “You” tab showed your own activity, such as likes, comments, and new followers. The “Following” tab displayed the activity of the people you followed.

2. The Manual Method: A Post-by-Post Investigation

While there’s no direct way to see a comprehensive list of someone’s liked photos, you can still manually check individual posts to see if they’ve liked them. This method is time-consuming but can be useful if you’re curious about a specific photo.

How to Manually Check for Likes on a Specific Post?

Navigate to the Post: Find the Instagram post you’re interested in.
View the Likes: Tap on the number of likes below the post. This will open a list of all the users who have liked the photo.
Search for the User: Manually scroll through the list or use the search bar at the top to find the specific user you’re looking for.
- Pro Tip: If the post has a lot of likes, using the search bar is the most efficient way to find the user.

Limitations of the Manual Method

Time-Consuming: Checking each post individually can take a lot of time, especially if you want to see their activity across many posts.
Not Comprehensive: You can only see if they liked a specific post if you already know about that post. You won’t get a complete overview of all the photos they’ve liked.
Public Accounts Only: This method only works for public accounts. If the user’s account is private, you won’t be able to see their likes unless you’re following them.

3. Third-Party Apps: A Risky Proposition

Numerous third-party apps claim to allow you to see what photos someone likes on Instagram. However, using these apps comes with significant risks.

Why Third-Party Apps Are Problematic?

Violation of Instagram’s Terms of Service: Most of these apps violate Instagram’s terms of service, which could lead to your account being suspended or banned.
Security Risks: These apps often require you to provide your Instagram login credentials, which could compromise your account security. They may steal your password or use your account to send spam.
Privacy Concerns: Many of these apps collect your data and may share it with third parties without your consent.
Malware: Some of these apps may contain malware that can harm your device.
- According to Popular Photography, using unauthorized third-party apps is one of the biggest mistakes photographers can make on social media.

Safer Alternatives

If you’re still curious about someone’s activity on Instagram, consider these safer alternatives:

Engage with Their Content: Like and comment on their posts to get a better sense of their interests.
Check Their Following List: See who they’re following to get an idea of the types of accounts they find interesting.
Use Instagram’s Explore Page: Discover new content based on your own interests and the accounts you follow.

4. The Art of Suggestion: Leveraging Instagram’s Algorithm

Instagram’s algorithm is designed to show you content that it thinks you’ll be interested in. By interacting with a user’s content, you can influence the algorithm to show you more of their activity.

How to Influence the Algorithm?

Follow the User: This is the most basic way to see more of their content.
Like Their Posts: Liking their posts tells Instagram that you’re interested in their content.
Comment on Their Posts: Leaving thoughtful comments shows even greater engagement.
View Their Stories: Watching their stories signals to Instagram that you’re interested in their daily activity.
Save Their Posts: Saving their posts indicates that you find their content valuable.
- Pro Tip: The more you interact with a user’s content, the more likely you are to see their activity in your feed.

5. The Power of Shared Connections

If you have mutual friends with the person you’re interested in, you can leverage those connections to gain insights into their activity.

How to Use Shared Connections?

Ask Mutual Friends: If you’re close to a mutual friend, you can ask them if they’ve noticed anything interesting about the person’s activity on Instagram.
Observe Mutual Interactions: Pay attention to posts where both you and the person you’re interested in are tagged or mentioned. This can give you clues about their interests and who they’re interacting with.
Join Shared Groups: If you and the person you’re interested in are part of the same Instagram groups, you can observe their interactions within those groups.

6. Understanding Instagram’s Privacy Settings

It’s important to respect people’s privacy on Instagram. If someone has a private account, they’ve chosen to limit who can see their content. Trying to circumvent these privacy settings is not only unethical but also a violation of Instagram’s terms of service.

Respecting Privacy Settings

Private Accounts: If someone has a private account, you won’t be able to see their posts or likes unless they approve your follow request.
Blocking: If someone has blocked you, you won’t be able to see their profile or any of their content.
Restricting: If someone has restricted you, their comments on your posts will only be visible to them.

7. Ethical Considerations

While it’s natural to be curious about what people are doing on social media, it’s important to consider the ethical implications of trying to track their activity.

Maintaining Ethical Boundaries

Respect Privacy: Avoid using methods that violate people’s privacy or Instagram’s terms of service.
Avoid Stalking: Don’t engage in behavior that could be considered stalking or harassment.
Focus on Building Genuine Connections: Instead of trying to track someone’s activity, focus on building a genuine connection with them through respectful and authentic interactions.

8. The Bigger Picture: Why Does It Matter?

Why are you so interested in seeing what photos someone likes on Instagram? Understanding your motivation can help you find more productive and ethical ways to achieve your goals.

Understanding Your Motivation

Curiosity: Are you simply curious about what the person is interested in?
Relationship Interest: Are you interested in the person romantically?
Professional Reasons: Do you need to understand their interests for professional reasons, such as marketing or research?

9. Instagram for Photographers: Building Your Own Following

Instead of focusing on what others are doing, why not focus on building your own following on Instagram? As a photographer, Instagram can be a powerful tool for showcasing your work and connecting with other creatives.

Tips for Building Your Following

Post High-Quality Photos: Share visually appealing and well-composed photos.
Use Relevant Hashtags: Use hashtags to reach a wider audience.
Engage with Other Users: Like and comment on other people’s photos.
Post Regularly: Keep your feed active with fresh content.
Tell Stories: Share the stories behind your photos to connect with your audience on a deeper level.

According to research from the Santa Fe University of Art and Design’s Photography Department, in July 2025, consistent engagement and high-quality content are key to growing a successful Instagram following.

10. Discover Inspiration and Techniques at dfphoto.net

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Detailed Tutorials: Learn about various photography techniques, such as exposure, aperture, shutter speed, and composition.
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Featured Photographers: Discover the work of talented photographers and learn about their creative processes.
Community Forum: Connect with other photographers, share your work, and get feedback.

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FAQ: Unveiling Instagram’s Hidden Corners

1. Is it possible to see a list of all the photos someone has liked on Instagram?

Unfortunately, no. Instagram removed the feature that allowed you to see a comprehensive list of someone’s liked photos in 2019.

2. Can I use a third-party app to see someone’s likes on Instagram?

While there are third-party apps that claim to offer this functionality, using them is risky and could violate Instagram’s terms of service. It’s best to avoid these apps.

3. Why did Instagram remove the “Following” tab?

Instagram removed the “Following” tab because it wasn’t widely used and some users found it unsettling that their activity was visible to others.

4. How can I see if someone liked a specific photo on Instagram?

You can manually check the likes on a specific photo by tapping on the number of likes below the post and searching for the user in the list.

5. What are some safer alternatives to third-party apps for tracking Instagram activity?

Safer alternatives include engaging with the user’s content, checking their following list, and using Instagram’s Explore page.

6. How can I influence Instagram’s algorithm to see more of someone’s activity?

You can influence the algorithm by following the user, liking their posts, commenting on their posts, viewing their stories, and saving their posts.

7. What should I do if someone has a private account on Instagram?

If someone has a private account, you’ll need to send them a follow request and wait for them to approve it before you can see their content.

8. Is it ethical to try to track someone’s activity on Instagram?

It’s important to respect people’s privacy on Instagram and avoid using methods that violate their privacy or Instagram’s terms of service.

9. How can I build my own following on Instagram as a photographer?

To build your following, post high-quality photos, use relevant hashtags, engage with other users, post regularly, and tell stories behind your photos.

10. Where can I find inspiration and tips to improve my photography?

Visit dfphoto.net for detailed tutorials, gear reviews, featured photographers, and a community forum.

While Instagram has changed over the years, there are still ways to explore and connect with the visual world. Remember to respect privacy, engage ethically, and focus on building your own creative presence. And for all your photography needs, don’t forget to visit dfphoto.net!