Instagram question

There doesn't appear to be an option to not accept a follower initially. So anyone
can follow anyone? Of course after you follow them, they could remove you as a follower.
But initially, you can basically follow anyone without requiring permission?

Also, I noticed there is an option to "hide my story" or restrict. Does this basically mean
if I followed someone and suddenly their account has 0 posts and nothing see, they could
have restricted me from seeing their posts or hid their stories from me?

So they keep you on as a follower but block you from seeing anything on their profile and any
future posts they make? Hmmm

oatmeal said:

But initially, you can basically follow anyone without requiring permission?

Click to expand...

If the account is public, then yes. If the profile is private, you have to send a request to follow them.

oatmeal said:

Does this basically mean
if I followed someone and suddenly their account has 0 posts and nothing see, they could
have restricted me from seeing their posts or hid their stories from me?

Click to expand...

You might be blocked. The only way to know for sure is to open the profile on a private browser tab.

https://www.instagram.com/ENTER_USERNAME_HERE/

It will show you if there are any posts on the profile.