Instagram’s New Comment Filters Help Top Creators with 100K+ Followers Prioritize Fan Engagement

Key takeaways
  • Instagram has introduced new comment filters — Top Comments, Newest First, and Follower Count — for creators with over 100K followers.
  • The update helps high-follower creators prioritize meaningful interactions and focus on comments from high-engagement or high-reach users.
  • All creators still have access to existing filters like Verified, Followers, and Subscribers Only.
  • The new tools aim to improve community engagement, increase content visibility, and support growth strategies — but remain exclusive to the 100K+ club for now.
  • Instagram has not announced plans to extend these features to creators with smaller followings.

Instagram is expanding its suite of comment moderation tools by rolling out new filtering options to creators with over 100,000 followers. The update, announced through the Instagram Creators broadcast channel, gives high-follower accounts advanced ways to sort through the often overwhelming volume of comments on posts and Reels.

This marks a step toward helping prominent creators manage their audience relationships more efficiently, enhancing meaningful engagement while filtering out noise.

What the New Comment Filters Include

View on Threads

 

Eligible creators can now organize their comment sections using three new filters:

  • Top Comments: Prioritizes replies with the highest engagement, helping creators identify what resonates most with their audience.
  • Newest First: Displays comments in chronological order, making it easier to respond in real-time.
  • Follower Count: Sorts comments by the number of followers the commenter has, helping creators identify high-reach interactions.

These filters build on Instagram's existing tools that allow creators to view comments from verified users, paid subscribers, and accounts they follow.

This added granularity is designed for scale. With thousands of comments flooding large creators' posts, these sorting options offer a streamlined method to surface high-priority interactions.

Strategic Use: More Than Just Moderation

Beyond filtering spam or organizing conversations, these tools have strategic implications. Prioritizing comments from high-follower accounts or verified users can amplify a post's reach if those replies spark further engagement. Similarly, responding to subscribers or loyal fans reinforces community bonds, driving retention and repeat interaction.

Want to boost your subscription numbers? The "Subscribers Only" filter lets creators easily find and engage with paying followers first. Looking to build a network or attract brand attention? The "Follower Count" filter can surface comments from influential users.

For creators aiming to grow their presence or launch collaborations, these tools add a new layer of interaction strategy directly within Instagram.

Why the 100K Threshold?

Instagram is currently limiting this advanced filtering functionality to accounts with 100,000 followers or more. While this might frustrate smaller creators who receive high engagement, the rationale is scale: the tools are most impactful when used to manage large comment volumes.

Instagram hasn’t provided details on whether these filters will be available to a broader user base in the future. For now, smaller creators will need to rely on the standard moderation tools already available.

The Bigger Picture: Prioritizing Engagement Efficiency

This feature rollout aligns with Instagram’s broader focus on creator support and monetization. By giving top-tier creators more ways to interact effectively with their audiences, the platform enhances both user satisfaction and content performance.

In an increasingly competitive creator economy, managing engagement isn’t just about keeping up—it’s about building meaningful, strategic relationships. These filters help top creators do exactly that.

Whether it’s encouraging more thoughtful replies, driving subscription revenue, or identifying collaboration opportunities, Instagram’s new comment filtering tools offer serious utility for creators ready to elevate their engagement game.

About the Author
Kalin Anastasov plays a pivotal role as an content manager and editor at Influencer Marketing Hub. He expertly applies his SEO and content writing experience to enhance each piece, ensuring it aligns with our guidelines and delivers unmatched quality to our readers.