You're scrolling late at night. Maybe it's an ex's new puppy, a weirdly specific meme about tax prep, or a fitness influencer's questionable supplement stack. You hover over the heart icon. Then, the panic hits. Can someone see what I like on Instagram? It’s a valid fear. We’ve all been there, wondering if our digital footprints are being broadcasted to the very people we're trying to subtly observe.
Honestly, the answer isn't a simple yes or no anymore. It’s complicated.
Instagram has changed a lot since the days of the "Following" tab. Remember that? Back then, you could literally spy on your friends' activity in real-time. You could see exactly who they followed at 3:00 AM and every single bikini photo they liked. It was a chaotic era for privacy, or rather, the lack thereof. Instagram eventually nuked that feature because, well, it was creepy. But just because that specific tab is gone doesn't mean your likes are totally invisible.
The Current State of Social Surveillance
If you like a photo, the person who posted it can always see that you liked it. That’s the basic function of the app. It doesn't matter if your profile is private or public; if you interact with a post, the author gets a notification, and your handle appears in their "Likes" list. This is the most direct way someone sees your activity. If you’re trying to stay "undercover" while browsing a public account, hitting that heart button is your giveaway.
But what about your followers? Can they see what you're liking across the platform?
Generally, no. There is no central feed where your friends can go to see a curated list of your recent likes. However, the Instagram Algorithm is a chatty neighbor. If you and a friend follow the same account, your like might be highlighted under the post. It’ll say something like "Liked by [Your Username] and 42 others." This happens most often on the home feed or the Explore page. It’s not a deliberate "report" on your behavior, but it’s a contextual clue that pops up because the app thinks your friend will care more about a post if they see you liked it too.
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Can Someone See What I Like on Instagram via the Explore Page?
The Explore page is a weird beast. It’s tailored to you, but it’s influenced by the people you interact with. While your friends won't see a list of your likes there, the algorithm uses your data to suggest content to them. If you’re constantly liking niche woodworking videos, and your best friend also likes DIY stuff, Instagram might push those same videos to them. They won't necessarily know you were the catalyst for that recommendation, but the digital breadcrumbs are there.
Privacy settings play a massive role here. If your account is Private, only your approved followers can see your profile. But—and this is a big "but"—if you like a post on a Public account, your like is visible to everyone who views that post. Your privacy setting only hides your own grid and stories from strangers. It doesn't cloak your interactions on other people's public content.
Think of it like this: A private account is like staying in your house with the curtains drawn. People can’t see in. But if you walk out to a public park (a public IG page) and sign a guestbook (like a photo), everyone in the park can see your signature.
Why the "Following" Tab Removal Changed Everything
When Instagram removed the Activity Tab in late 2019, it was a massive win for the "lurker" community. Vishal Shah, who was Instagram’s VP of Product at the time, told BuzzFeed News that the feature was removed for simplicity and because most people didn't even know their activity was being broadcasted. People were getting "caught" in situations they didn't want to be in. It created unnecessary social friction.
Since then, the platform has leaned harder into "Suggested for You" content. This shift means that while your "likes" are harder to track intentionally, they are used more aggressively to build your interest profile.
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Third-party apps are another story. You might see ads for apps that claim they can show you what someone likes on Instagram. Avoid these like the plague. Most of them are scams designed to steal your login credentials or "scrape" data in violation of Instagram's Terms of Service. Ever since Meta tightened their API (Application Programming Interface) access following various data scandals, these "spy apps" rarely work as advertised. They are more likely to get your own account banned than they are to give you dirt on someone else's likes.
The Nuances of Stories and Reels
Reels work exactly like feed posts. If you like a Reel, your name goes into the list. Simple.
Stories are different. "Liking" a Story (the little heart next to the DM box) sends a notification to the creator. It doesn't show up in a public count for other viewers to see. Only the person who posted the Story can see the list of people who liked it. This makes Story likes feel a bit more private, but they are still a direct signal to the creator.
Then there’s the "Vanish Mode" in DMs. If you’re liking messages in a Vanish Mode chat, those likes disappear once the chat is closed. It’s the closest thing to a "ghost" interaction you can get on the platform.
Managing Your Digital Footprint
If you’re feeling self-conscious about your past activity, you can actually see every single post you’ve ever liked.
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- Go to your Profile.
- Tap the three lines (hamburger menu) in the top right.
- Select Your Activity.
- Tap on Interactions.
- Select Likes.
From here, you can bulk-unlike posts. It’s a tedious process if you’ve been on the app for a decade, but it’s the only way to "erase" those interactions. If you unlike a post, your name vanishes from that post's like list immediately. However, if the person has push notifications turned on and they already saw you liked it, the damage—if you want to call it that—is done. The notification stays on their phone's lock screen even if the heart is gone from the app.
Misconceptions About "Ghost Following"
Some people think that if they block someone and then unblock them, their likes on that person's photos will disappear. That’s actually true. Blocking someone removes your likes and comments from their posts. If you unblock them later, those likes don't magically reappear. It’s a "nuclear option" for cleaning up your interaction history with a specific person without having to scroll through years of photos.
But be careful. Blocking and unblocking (often called "soft blocking") also forces them to unfollow you. It’s a very visible move if they notice their follower count dropped or if they go to search for you.
Actionable Privacy Steps
If you want to keep your interactions as private as possible in 2026, here is the reality:
- Don't like posts on public accounts if you don't want your name associated with that content. Use the "Save" feature instead. Saving a post (the bookmark icon) is completely private. The creator knows someone saved it, but they have no way of knowing it was you.
- Keep your profile Private. While this doesn't hide your likes on other people's public posts, it prevents random people from clicking your name in a "Likes" list and seeing your personal photos.
- Audit your "Your Activity" tab regularly. If you’ve been on a late-night liking spree, go back and review what you’ve interacted with.
- Use Close Friends. If you’re sharing content you only want certain people to see (and interact with), use the Close Friends filter. Interactions within these stories are only visible to the creator.
- Beware of "Link in Bio" tools. Some third-party tools used by influencers can track who clicks what. If you're clicking through to a product, that data is often tracked outside of Instagram's primary privacy ecosystem.
Instagram is a social network, and by design, it rewards interaction. The "Like" button is the currency of the platform. If you want total anonymity, you have to be a ghost—someone who watches but never touches. The moment you tap that heart, you're stepping onto the stage. It might not be a spotlight, but in the right context, people can definitely see you.
Final Thoughts on Social Privacy
We live in an era where "digital privacy" is mostly an illusion of control. While Instagram has moved away from the blatant "spy-on-your-friends" features of the past, the platform is still built on connections. Your likes help the algorithm map out who you are, what you want, and who you know.
If you're worried about a specific person seeing your likes, your best bet is to interact with their content sparingly or use the Save function. The app is much more enjoyable when you isn't constantly looking over your shoulder, but a little bit of healthy "scrolling caution" goes a long way. Stay mindful of the "Liked by [Username]" tag that appears to mutual friends, as that remains the most common way people accidentally stumble across your activity. Unlike the old Activity Tab, this isn't a list they can search—it’s just a digital coincidence that happens more often than you’d think.