Curiosity plays a big part — everyone likes seeing who’s interested in their content. But for creators, it’s also useful for spotting audience patterns. Do you think checking new followers helps improve engagement, or does it distract from creativity?

What finally improved my retention was studying recent followers instagram alongside saves and replies. The moment I saw spikes after carousels with “how-to” posts, I doubled down on them and cut filler content. It’s simple: follow the people who just arrived, learn why they came, and give them more of that experience.