How Peekd works (and what it can’t do)
Peekd watches public Instagram accounts and tells you when their follow list changes. This page explains exactly how that works, so you know what the numbers mean before you rely on them.
Snapshots, not spying
When you add a public username, Peekd takes a snapshot of who that account follows and who follows it. From then on it checks the account again on a schedule and compares the new snapshot with the previous one. Anything that appeared is a new follow; anything that disappeared is an unfollow (or a removed follower).
That comparison is the whole trick. Instagram itself doesn’t publish a “recent activity” feed for other people, and it doesn’t sort following lists strictly by date. Peekd builds the timeline by noticing changes between snapshots, then stamps each change with the day we first saw it.
What Peekd can see
- Public accounts only. If anyone on the internet can open the profile without following it, Peekd can track it.
- Follows and unfollows over time, dated from the first snapshot onward.
- Who doesn’t follow back, by comparing an account’s followers with its following.
- Public stories, which you can view in the app without appearing in the viewer list.
What Peekd can’t see
- Private accounts. We don’t unlock them and we don’t claim to. Any site that promises a “private Instagram viewer” is worth being very suspicious of.
- History before you started tracking. The timeline begins with the first snapshot. We can’t reconstruct who someone followed last year.
- Likes, DMs, close friends or profile visitors. Instagram doesn’t expose these publicly, so no outside app can honestly show them.
- Very large or verified accounts. Accounts with more than 10,000 followers and verified accounts aren’t supported right now.
Timing is approximate. A follow is dated to the check where we first noticed it, so a change can show up a little after it actually happened.
No passwords, ever
Peekd never asks for your Instagram login or anyone else’s. Apps that want your password can act as you, get your account flagged, or lock you out. Peekd only works with what is already public, which is also why the person you track is never notified.
Peekd is an independent app. It isn’t made by, endorsed by or connected to Instagram or Meta.
Frequently asked questions
Will the person know I added them?
No. Peekd only reads public information and never interacts with the account, so nothing is sent to them.
Why don’t I see their older follows?
Peekd builds the timeline from snapshots. Changes before your first snapshot aren’t visible to anyone outside Instagram.
How fresh is the data?
Tracked accounts are re-checked regularly, and you get an alert when something changes. Dates reflect when Peekd first noticed a change.
Can Peekd see private accounts?
No. Peekd only works with public accounts and doesn’t try to get around Instagram’s privacy settings.
