# Follower: what it is and how it works · Zorraquino
> A follower is a person or account that subscribes to another’s posts on a social network so they appear in their feed.
URL: https://www.zorraquino.com/en/dictionary/digital-marketing/follower-social-network.html

# Follower

A follower is a person or account that subscribes to another’s posts on a social network so they appear in their feed

What it means, how it is used and where it comes up, with its related concepts.

[The whole glossary](https://www.zorraquino.com/en/dictionary)

## What it is and how it works

Following does not require reciprocity, unlike friendship or connections on some platforms. A follower count indicates the potential size of an account’s audience, but not how many people actually see each post, because algorithms decide what is shown.

For that reason it is often seen as a vanity metric when viewed on its own: it is best assessed alongside reach, engagement and the quality of the community. Bought followers or fake accounts distort the figure and usually breach platform rules.

Also known as

Fan, Subscriber

Topics

[Marketing and sales](https://www.zorraquino.com/en/dictionary/category/marketing-y-ventas)

## Related concepts

- [Social networks](https://www.zorraquino.com/en/dictionary/internet/social-networks.html)
- [Vanity metric](https://www.zorraquino.com/en/dictionary/digital-marketing/vanity-metrics.html)
- [Engagement](https://www.zorraquino.com/en/dictionary/digital-marketing/engagement.html)