Instagram has become more than just a photo-sharing platform—it’s a space for building real social connections, discovering communities, and expanding your digital circle. One of the key features that supports this is Instagram’s “Suggested Friends” section. Whether you’re a casual user, content creator, or small business owner, suggested friends can help you reconnect with people you may know or discover new users who align with your interests.
In this in-depth guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about suggested friends on Instagram, how the algorithm works, and how you can find and make the most of these suggestions in 2025.
🔍 What Are ‘Suggested Friends’ on Instagram?
Suggested friends (or suggested accounts) on Instagram are profiles recommended to you based on your activity and connections. These aren’t random accounts — Instagram uses several data points to decide who to show you. These suggestions are powered by Meta’s advanced algorithms that analyze your behavior and associations across platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
Instagram’s Suggested Friends Are Based On:
- Your phone contacts (if synced)
- Mutual followers between you and someone else
- Facebook friends (if accounts are linked)
- Interactions like likes, shares, saves, or profile visits
- Your location and hashtags you engage with
- Accounts followed by people you already follow
Think of it as Instagram’s way of helping you connect with people you already know but haven’t added, or individuals who share similar interests.
📲 How to See Suggested Friends on Instagram (2025 Updated Methods)
Ready to check your suggested friends list? Here are all the updated and effective ways to find suggested users on Instagram.
1. Scroll Through Your Home Feed
When you’re on your main Instagram feed (where you see posts from people you follow), Instagram occasionally places a “Suggested for You” section between regular posts. This includes 2–3 profiles the app believes you might want to follow.
👉 Tip: You can swipe horizontally to scroll through these suggestions, or tap the profile to explore more about the user.
2. Visit the Search or ‘Discover’ Tab
Instagram’s Discover page (the magnifying glass icon) is where you can search for content, people, Reels, and tags. At the top of this page, Instagram often displays a “Suggested for You” row of users based on your recent activities.
How to Access It:
- Tap the 🔍 magnifying glass icon at the bottom
- Look at the top row or near the search bar for profile suggestions
- Tap “See All” if available to view more accounts
This is particularly helpful if you’re trying to explore new people, influencers, or creators that match your niche.
3. Check the ‘Following’ and ‘Followers’ Section in Your Profile
Another less-known but effective way is to go to your profile and check your following or followers.
Steps:
- Tap your profile icon (bottom-right corner)
- Tap on “Following”
- Scroll down — Instagram sometimes inserts a “Suggested for You” banner at the bottom or between existing accounts
You may also find the “Discover People” button, which takes you to a broader list of suggested friends.
4. Use the ‘Discover People’ Feature
This feature is designed specifically for finding new people to follow based on your connections.
Steps:
- Go to your profile
- Tap the three horizontal lines (≡) at the top-right
- Tap “Discover People”
- View suggestions pulled from contacts, mutuals, and more
You’ll also see a blue “Connect Contacts” button if you haven’t synced your phonebook yet, which will further improve your suggestions.
5. Via Facebook Account Linking
If you have connected your Facebook account to Instagram, suggested friends will often include your Facebook friends who also use Instagram.
To check this:
- Go to Settings > Account Center
- Ensure your Instagram and Facebook are connected
- Head back to “Discover People” and check suggestions
6. Explore Reels and Comments
Yes, even while watching Reels or scrolling through comments, Instagram sometimes shows pop-ups or hover profiles saying, “Suggested for You.” These micro-recommendations are often based on people who like similar Reels or comment on the same pages.
🧠 How Instagram Decides Who to Suggest
Instagram’s suggestion algorithm in 2025 has become even more intelligent, using machine learning to find the best possible matches based on your in-app activity.
Here’s what the platform looks at:
| Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Contact Sync | If you’ve synced your phone contacts, Instagram will suggest people in your phonebook. |
| Mutual Connections | Friends of friends are commonly recommended. |
| Facebook Data | If Facebook and Instagram are linked, it’ll suggest your Facebook friends. |
| Engagement Patterns | Likes, comments, follows, story views all count. |
| Profile Searches | If you’ve searched someone multiple times, Instagram may recommend them or similar profiles. |
| Location-Based Suggestions | Instagram may suggest people from your city or frequently visited places. |
📝 Why Should You Check Suggested Friends?
Checking your suggested friends list regularly has its advantages — both socially and professionally. Here’s why you should pay attention:
🔹 Reconnect with Old Friends
Lost touch with a friend from school or work? Instagram might suggest them if you have shared contacts or mutual connections.
🔹 Grow Your Network
Especially useful for influencers, marketers, and small businesses looking to build a community or expand their reach within a niche.
🔹 Discover New Content
Suggested friends often come with profiles that share content aligned with your interests — travel, fitness, photography, etc.
🔹 Increase Engagement
Following and interacting with suggested friends can increase the likelihood that others follow you back, boosting your follower count and engagement rates.
🔹 Targeted Audience for Creators
If you’re a content creator or running a business, following suggested users can help you find your target audience organically.
🔐 How to Control or Turn Off Suggestions (If Needed)
While suggestions are helpful, not everyone wants Instagram to constantly recommend people. If you’re concerned about privacy or just want to reduce clutter, here’s how to manage it.
✅ Turn Off Contact Sync:
- Go to your profile > Tap ≡ > Settings
- Navigate to Account Center
- Tap “Your Information and Permissions”
- Tap “Upload Contacts” and turn it OFF
✅ Disconnect Facebook (Optional):
- Go to Account Center
- Tap “Accounts”
- Remove or unlink Facebook from Instagram
✅ Hide Specific Suggestions:
If a profile shows up that you don’t want to follow or see again:
- Tap the X next to their name in the “Suggested for You” box
This action will tell the algorithm not to show that user again.
⚡ Pro Tips to Get Better Suggestions
Want to improve the kind of people Instagram suggests to you? Try these tricks:
1. Update Interests Through Activity
Regularly like, save, and comment on posts relevant to your hobbies, business, or interests. The algorithm uses this data.
2. Use Niche Hashtags
The more you explore niche content via hashtags, the more tailored your suggestions become.
3. Engage With Your Real-Life Network
Engage with people from your phonebook or Facebook for more relevant friend suggestions.
4. Clear Cache (Android users)
If you’ve been seeing irrelevant suggestions, clearing your Instagram cache might help reset data.
🧩 Final Thoughts
Instagram’s “Suggested Friends” feature is a powerful tool to reconnect, expand, and personalize your digital social space. Whether you’re trying to reconnect with someone from your past or discover fresh content creators in your niche, these suggestions are your fast pass to building a better, more relevant Instagram feed.
So the next time you see a “Suggested for You” prompt, don’t ignore it — it might just be your next follower, client, collaborator, or long-lost friend.
📌 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Can I stop Instagram from suggesting friends?
Yes. Turn off contact syncing, unlink Facebook, or tap “X” next to suggestions you don’t want.
Q2: Why does Instagram suggest random people?
They’re not truly random—Instagram bases suggestions on mutual connections, similar interests, or contact data.
Q3: Can I see who viewed my profile from suggested friends?
No, Instagram does not notify users when someone views their profile or when you’re suggested to someone else.
Q4: Is there a way to reset friend suggestions?
Yes. You can clear your Instagram search history and disable synced contacts to refresh suggestions.
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