SAMPLE WALKTHROUGH
How tracking works, with a sample account.
Tracking starts with a saved list. Follow Maya’s fictional account to see how later comparisons turn differences into activity records.
Maintained by the Instoryview product team
Illustrative data throughout: no real account activity is shown.
Follow a sample account, step by step
This walkthrough uses the product interface with fictional names, usernames, counts and activity. Follow the sample account @maya.bennett through new follows, tracking settings and scan history. Any dates shown in the video are part of the demo.
- 44
- Sample starting count
- +3
- Sample new follows
- 47
- Sample final count
Five example checks. Two list comparisons.
In this fictional sequence, the first check saves a starting list of 44 accounts. Two list comparisons add 1 and then 2 accounts. The final two checks only read the total. Check numbers show the order of the example, not actual scan times.
| Example check | What this check did | Following | Added | Removed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check 1 | Saved the starting list | 44 | — | — |
| Check 2 | Compared list membership | 45 | +1 | 0 |
| Check 3 | Compared list membership | 47 | +2 | 0 |
| Check 4 | Count unchanged; list not compared | 47 | — | — |
| Check 5 | Count unchanged; list not compared | 47 | — | — |
“—” means no comparison was made, not zero detected changes. An unchanged total alone cannot rule out one account leaving while another joins.
Download the fictional sample data (JSON)How to read a tracking result
- 1
Save a complete starting list
The first complete collection establishes a baseline. Starting today does not reconstruct changes from before tracking began.
- 2
Compare later completed lists
When a later list is collected and compared, accounts present only in the newer list are additions; accounts missing from it are removals. A count-only check does not compare list membership.
- 3
Read the detection time and scope
In the product, each timestamp records when Instoryview detected a difference, not the exact time an Instagram action happened. This demo illustrates Following changes only; follower changes appear separately when that list is supported and selected.
What tracking can and cannot show
The example illustrates 3 additions, 0 removals and a final Following count of 47. These numbers explain how to read the interface. They are not measured results, an accuracy claim or a promise that every change will be captured.
- An account can leave and return between completed comparisons without producing a recorded change.
- An incomplete or unavailable list can delay or prevent a useful comparison. A missing account does not establish why it disappeared.
- A count-only check cannot confirm who is on a list. An unchanged total can hide one account leaving while another joins.
Current product eligibility
The setup flow checks whether an account and its lists are supported before tracking starts. Private or inaccessible lists cannot be tracked.
- Following: the configured product limit is 50,000 accounts followed.
- Followers: eligible public, non-verified accounts with up to 100,000 followers and an accessible list.
These are Instoryview product rules, not universal Instagram limits. A count within the limit does not guarantee that a list is available. The fictional example does not test these limits.
Check scan costs and plan detailsHow we use sample data
Maya and the other profiles are fictional demo identities. Photos are used for illustration; names, usernames, counts, dates and activity are sample content, not records of the people pictured. The downloadable file contains only the illustrative account and check sequence shown here.
Walkthrough summary
- Open the sample account @maya.bennett and select New follows to view three illustrative additions with profile photos, names and follower counts.
- Open tracking settings to see where to choose the lists to track and how often to check them.
- Open Scan history. The sample starts with 44 accounts, then two comparisons add 1 and 2 accounts to reach 47. The last two checks read only the total. Dates in the video are illustrative detection times.
About this example
This page uses a fictional account, a sample recording and an illustrative check sequence to explain the tracking workflow.
The example is fixed for learning and does not refresh with live account activity. Available tracking options depend on the account, list access and current product settings. Check the setup flow and pricing page for the options available to you.
Questions or corrections: [email protected]
Instoryview is independent of Instagram and Meta. This fictional example is not a customer testimonial or endorsement.