We used to stalk people via Facebook. Now, many of us get the low-down on friends, acquaintances and total strangers by flipping through artsy, retro-looking pics from photo-sharing app Instagram.
Facebook caught Insta-fever, too, this year, and plans to acquire the popular photo-sharing app. Just this week, the Federal Trade Commission gave the deal the green light, allowing the buyout to proceed.
The addictive app gives followers the opportunity to peek into someone else's world through pictures prettified using a number of light filters. Most Instagrammers opt to leave their accounts open to the public; thus, users have flocked to celebrity accounts created by teen idols and reality TV stars who don't mind broadcasting their lives (in sepia tones) to the masses.
"Who cares!?" you may say. "Who cares about Taylor Swift's cat, or about what the Kardashian family is doing!"
Ah, but some of you do care. In fact, Taylor Swift's account alone has nearly 2.5 million followers, making her follower list four times the population of Portland, Oregon, per the U.S. Census Bureau. And she's not even the most popular Instagram user.
Flip through our slideshow (below), featuring the top 15 Instagram accounts. Can you guess who's the most-followed user? Are you surprised at the accounts that made the list? Let us know in the comments section or tweet us at [@HuffPostTech]. Then check out HuffPost Tech's very favorite Instagram users, as well as our tips for things you should never do on Instagram, plus our guide to how to "normalize" Instagram's filtered photos.
Note: The actual most-followed account is Instagram's company account, which we excluded from our list. Selena Gomez was also highly ranked, but has since made her pictures private. Thus, she is also excluded from the rankings.
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#15 - ZooeyDeschanel
Zooey Deschanel
Actress, Singer
Followers: 1,105,372
Pictures from <a href="statigr.am/" target="_hplink">Statigram</a>
Statistics from <a href="http://web.stagram.com/" target="_hplink">Webstagram </a>
#14 - SnoopDogg
Snoop Dogg
Rapper
Followers: 1,126,046
Pictures from <a href="statigr.am/" target="_hplink">Statigram</a>
Statistics from <a href="http://web.stagram.com/" target="_hplink">Webstagram </a>
#13 - HarryStyles
Harry Styles
Singer
Followers: 1,160,487
Pictures from <a href="statigr.am/" target="_hplink">Statigram</a>
Statistics from <a href="http://web.stagram.com/" target="_hplink">Webstagram </a>
#12 - FuckYoPictures
Chris Brown
Singer, Rapper
Followers: 1,179,624
Pictures from <a href="statigr.am/" target="_hplink">Statigram</a>
Statistics from <a href="http://web.stagram.com/" target="_hplink">Webstagram </a>
#11 - Eyemediaa
Eye Media
Online business solutions company
Followers: 1,182,105
Pictures from <a href="statigr.am/" target="_hplink">Statigram</a>
Statistics from <a href="http://web.stagram.com/" target="_hplink">Webstagram </a>
#10 - RobKardashian
Rob Kardashian
Reality TV Star
Followers: 1,205,312
Pictures from <a href="statigr.am/" target="_hplink">Statigram</a>
Statistics from <a href="http://web.stagram.com/" target="_hplink">Webstagram </a>
#9 - BarackObama
Barack Obama
President of U.S.A.
Followers: 1,251,611
Pictures from <a href="statigr.am/" target="_hplink">Statigram</a>
Statistics from <a href="http://web.stagram.com/" target="_hplink">Webstagram </a>
#8 - Arianagrande
Ariana Grande
Actress, Singer
Followers: 1,309,024
Pictures from <a href="statigr.am/" target="_hplink">Statigram</a>
Statistics from <a href="http://web.stagram.com/" target="_hplink">Webstagram </a>
#7 - KourtneyKardash
Kourtney Kardashian
Reality TV Star
Followers: 1,431,858
Pictures from <a href="statigr.am/" target="_hplink">Statigram</a>
Statistics from <a href="http://web.stagram.com/" target="_hplink">Webstagram </a>
#6 - BadGalRiri
Rihanna
Singer
Followers: 2,193,273
Pictures from <a href="statigr.am/" target="_hplink">Statigram</a>
Statistics from <a href="http://web.stagram.com/" target="_hplink">Webstagram </a>
#5 - KylieeJennerr
Kylie Jenner
Reality TV Star
Followers: 2,223,420
Pictures from <a href="statigr.am/" target="_hplink">Statigram</a>
Statistics from <a href="http://web.stagram.com/" target="_hplink">Webstagram </a>
#4 - TaylorSwift
Taylor Swift
Singer
Followers: 2,476,185
Pictures from <a href="statigr.am/" target="_hplink">Statigram</a>
Statistics from <a href="http://web.stagram.com/" target="_hplink">Webstagram </a>
#3 - KendallNJenner
Kendall Jenner
Reality TV Star
Followers: 2,520,887
Pictures from <a href="statigr.am/" target="_hplink">Statigram</a>
Statistics from <a href="http://web.stagram.com/" target="_hplink">Webstagram </a>
#2 - JustinBieber
Justin Bieber
Singer
Followers: 2,784,682
Pictures from <a href="statigr.am/" target="_hplink">Statigram</a>
Statistics from <a href="http://web.stagram.com/" target="_hplink">Webstagram </a>
#1 - KimKardashian
Kim Kardashian
Reality TV Star
Followers: 3,673,040
Pictures from <a href="statigr.am/" target="_hplink">Statigram</a>
Statistics from <a href="http://web.stagram.com/" target="_hplink">Webstagram </a>
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