There is always someone on social media whose activities you are particularly intrigued by. And when it comes to your Instagram story viewers, you want to know what is the Instagram story viewer order based on.
If you share Instagram stories frequently, you must have noticed that some specific users appear at the top of the IG story viewers’ list. On the other hand, some are at the bottom of the list most of the time. So, what does the order of Instagram story viewers mean?
You may be wondering if the person who appears on the top is the one who usually stalks you on Instagram. But the actual reason behind the order of Instagram story viewers is slightly different.
In the following, we will talk about the main factors that affect the order of viewers on Instagram. So stay tuned to learn more about Instagram algorithms.
So, without further ado let’s know how Instagram story views order work.
The Algorithm Behind the Instagram Story Viewer Order
The Instagram story viewer order is supposedly chronological, however, this isn’t always the case. The question of how does Instagram sort story viewers have different explanations.
Some say the order of viewers on an Instagram story is determined by Instagram’s algorithm, and is not displayed in a specific order based on when someone viewed the story. The fact is that Instagram uses a variety of factors to determine the order of story viewers, which may include:

Read more: The Best Instagram Followers Apps (35 Safe & Free Android & IOS Apps)
1. Interaction
This factor has a greater impact on the Instagram story viewer order. But how does this alter the ranking of Instagram story viewers?
As you may already know, the Instagram algorithm works so that the more interactions you have with someone, the more chances you have to see their posts and stories on top of your Instagram feed.
This algorithm also affects the order of viewers on an Instagram story. It means that if someone interacts with your Instagram account frequently, such as liking or commenting on your posts, sending DMs to you, or engaging with your stories, they may appear higher in the viewer list.
2. Recency
But sometimes your Instagram story viewer order changes, and you don’t see the individuals you have interacted with more on top. There may be another factor in the order of story viewers. If someone views your story shortly after you post it, they may appear higher in the viewer list. Instagram tends to prioritize recent viewers to show you the most relevant and current interactions.
3. Relationship
Sometimes you see the same people on top and may ask why is always the same person on top viewers on my instagram story. Instagram may prioritize viewers who you frequently engage with or have a closer relationship with, such as close friends or family members.
4. The Number of Your Story Views
The amount of people who have seen your story also has some bearing. Meaning that the viewers are shown in chronological order if the average number of story viewers is less than 50. However, the order of Instagram story viewers will change if your story views reach more than 51.
5. Profile Visits
There is also a probability that if someone visits your Instagram profile after viewing your story, they may appear higher in the Instagram story viewer order list. Instagram may consider this as a higher level of engagement and relevance.
6. Account Type
Instagram may also give preference to users that have a greater following or higher engagement on their Instagram account. For example, if you use Instagram for business and have a large following, you may be at the top of your friend’s story viewers’ sorting.
Additionally, when you check your viewers every minute and refresh to see who else has viewed your story, Instagram brings the users from the end of the list to the top to help you check your viewers easier.
So, Instagram story viewer order has nothing to do with who is stalking you on Instagram. The reason behind this is that Instagram tries to keep users’ privacy!
It’s crucial to remember that Instagram’s algorithm is continuously changing and evolving, and there’s no surefire way to figure out why viewers on your Instagram Story are being ordered in that sequence.
Read more: How to Change Background on Instagram Story to Make it More Engaging & Productive
Myths About Instagram Story Viewer Order
The story viewers are arranged chronologically, as we previously stated. But the order changes when you get more views on Instagram stories. For example, if your viewers surpass 50 views, the Instagram story viewer order will change.
Along with Instagram’s lack of transparency regarding its algorithm, this has given rise to numerous myths. Some of the most common are listed below.
Myth 1: The Instagram Story Viewer Order Represents Who Has Viewed Your Story the Most
It is not correct, the reality is that the Instagram story viewer order is not solely based on who has viewed your story the most. Instagram uses an algorithm that takes into consideration various factors, including engagement (such as likes, comments, and shares), direct messages, and interactions with the story (such as taps, swipes, and replies), to determine the order of viewers. The order is personalized for each user separately.
Myth 2: The Order of Viewers on Instagram Stories Is Based on the Order in which People Have Viewed Your Story
The fact is that Instagram does not show the viewers of your story in chronological order. The view order is determined by the algorithm mentioned above, and it may not necessarily represent the order in which people have viewed your story. Therefore, you cannot accurately determine the exact sequence of viewers based on the view order.
Myth 3: The Instagram Story Viewer Order Is Influenced by Your Close Friends’ List
The view order of Instagram Stories is not influenced by your close friends’ list. The algorithm used by Instagram to determine the view order takes into account a wide range of factors, but your close friends’ list is not one of them. The view order is personalized for each user and may change over time.
Myth 4: The Instagram Story Viewers Order Is Fixed and Does not Change
The view order of Instagram stories is not fixed and can change over time. Instagram’s algorithm is dynamic and continuously updates the view order based on multiple factors, such as engagement and interactions with the story. Therefore, the order of viewers may change even after you have posted your story.
The order of viewers is also not visible to anyone else except for you as the story owner. In conclusion, Instagram does not provide a feature that allows you to see a list of viewers in the exact order shown in the view order list.
It is important to understand that the exact algorithm used by Instagram to determine the viewer order is not publicly disclosed.
Read more: Instagram Stories Not Working 2022? Try These Easy & Quick Fixes
The Benefits of Instagram Story Viewers Order List
The advantage of Instagram story viewers order list is that it allows you to see who has viewed your Instagram stories. This means that you can easily identify the users who have engaged with your content and have shown interest in your stories. Having a viewers order list can provide several benefits, including:
Engagement Tracking
By knowing the order in which users have viewed your Instagram stories, you can gauge the level of your engagement rate. You can see which stories are performing well and resonating with your followers, and which ones may need improvement. This information can help you tailor your content strategy to better engage with your audience.
Audience Insights
The viewers’ order list provides insights into the preferences and behavior of your followers. You can see who is regularly viewing your stories and identify your most loyal and engaged followers. This information can be valuable for understanding your audience’s interests, demographics, and preferences, allowing you to create more targeted and relevant content.
Influencer Marketing
If you want to become an influencer or work with influencers, the viewers’ order list can be useful in tracking the performance of sponsored content. You can identify which followers are actively viewing and engaging with sponsored stories, and assess the effectiveness of your influencer collaborations. This can help you make data-driven decisions when it comes to influencer partnerships and optimize your marketing strategies.
In summary, the advantage of Instagram story viewers order list lies in its ability to provide insights into audience engagement, preferences, and behavior, allowing you to tailor your content marketing strategy, build relationships with your audience, and make informed decisions in your marketing efforts.
Can You See How Many Times Someone Has Viewed Your Instagram Story?
The short answer is NO! Instagram’s privacy doesn’t let it do so. And for this reason, it doesn’t allow you to find your stalkers and see how many times they have viewed your Instagram stories.
Additionally, suppose you manage a business account and use Instagram insights to analyze your story views. In that case, you have to know that regardless of when someone has viewed your story, Instagram counts them as one view.
So, checking an Instagram story multiple times doesn’t help you grow your Instagram story views. However, you could use Instagram story viewer hacks to get more viewers.
How to Watch Instagram Stories Anonymously?
Unluckily, you cannot watch Instagram stories anonymously using the official app. However, some third-party apps like AiSchedul allow you to do so.

By going to the Instagram story downloader on this website and entering the username of the one you want to watch stories from anonymously, you can view, download, and save all the recent and highlighted stories. So, click here to know how to save someone’s Instagram story for free.
Final Thoughts on Instagram Story Viewer Order
So, the view order of Instagram Stories is not solely based on who has viewed your story the most, is not necessarily in chronological order, cannot be seen in the exact sequence shown in the view order list, is not influenced by your close friends list, and is not fixed and can change over time.
To wrap it up, the Instagram story viewer order depends on the number of factors. Read the article meticulously, find answers to similar questions, and feel free to leave us a comment if you have any other questions.
FAQs Related to the Instagram Story Viewer Order
Users who are curious about the Instagram story viewer order usually ask the following questions as well. So, take a look at them and broaden your knowledge about the Instagram algorithm.
1- How are Likes Listed on Instagram?
Like the IG story viewer order, Instagram has not informed users about the actual reason behind the order of likes. However, it seems like the algorithm for listing the likes is almost the same as the one listing the story viewers, i.e., the users with whom you interact most will appear at the top of the list.
2- What’s the Order of the Instagram Following List?
Fortunately, we know how Instagram following and followers are listed. And it’s not about who has viewed your Instagram recently. Instead, the followers’ list is in chronological order, which means that you see the ones who have recently followed you at the top of the list.
The ‘followings’ are listed in 3 different ways:
Default; which shows the ones you engage with the most at the top,
Latest, by which users you have followed lately will be on top,
And earliest, which is in the earliest to the latest chronological order.
3- What Does the Order of Instagram Story Viewers Mean?
The Instagram Story viewer order means the order in which people who have seen a specific Story are listed. Instagram does not have a feature or setting that allows you to see the exact order of story viewers, and any third-party programs or services that claim to do so may not be reliable or safe to use.