is following colleagues on Instagram weird?

[ThatLilacHedgehog]

I got a new job around a month ago and have really been getting on well with my colleagues and I’ve found a couple of their insta profiles. Am I being unreasonable in thinking it would be weird if I followed them on insta?

Weird and stalky

On MN, yes it would be weird because you should never try and get on with your colleagues or be friendly with them

In RL, if you get on well then follow them. They can always block if they think it's weird but they're more likely to follow you back tbh

I'd wait a bit. I've been at my job 7 months and have only added the person I'm closest to on Instagram, though I've seen others on there. I think one month in is a bit quick to start following coworker's personal lives.

Just ask them?
I follow a few of my work colleagues on Instagram. It never occurred to me it would be a big deal? They followed me back.

Why is it weird? My colleagues and I all follow each other on Instagram and fb.

Wait.

Don't do it now it's too soon, because you don't know them well enough. Wait at least three months if not more.

No

An enormous overstep and imposition in MN world where colleagues and friends must be entirely mutually exclusive and it's unthinkable to be interested in your colleagues lives outside the workplace.

In real life though, it's probably fine. My team and I all follow each other on Instagram and quite often send each other things we've seen for inspiration, given we're a marketing team. I follow and am followed by a few others in the company because we (shock, horror) like each other, and even occasionally socialise outside of work at our own free will.

It’s weird because it means you’re searching for them? I mean they don’t just pop up on their own. So it would feel stalkerish to me.

No no no. Not after a month. I would let them add you until you have developed friendships with them.

Wait a bit. If you add them now you can't unadd them later

Personally, I would have boundaries between work life and private life and that includes social media. If the Insta is set to public and has very generic content, then perhaps in a while. I think it's weird to stalk colleagues' personal lives though, sorry!

Yes they do. My colleagues are always on my recommendation list on IG I think most likely linked to their telephone numbers.

Depends how they use IG. If they post work related stuff just follow. If it’s personal - I wouldn’t unless/until you develop a friendship that goes beyond just work.

If you’d like your colleagues to follow you - feel free to mention in passing that you <insert whatever your hobbies are > and pull up a photo you’ve posted on IG related to said hobby.

I don’t keep work and personal life isolated - but I do separate social media, and work people only end up on my personal socials if they’re someone I’d happily catch up with socially. I just like that degree of separation where I’m not thinking about is this an appropriate thing to share to an audience of colleagues wherever I post (or have conversations with other friendship groups).

If you actively looked for them then weird and stalkery. If they came up on people you may know coz you have their numbers then OK-ish.
Personally I'd wait to see if they follow you.
I don't have colleagues on there who aren't very long term friends as well.
Also prob depends on age profile as perception us different. Connecting on LinkedIn is fine