Status: Available The difference between following someone and connecting with them, and what each one lets you see.
Your community gives you two ways to keep up with other members: following and connecting. They sound similar, but they work differently. Here's the short version.
Following is one-way and instant
Following someone is like following an account. It's one-way, and it happens right away with no approval needed. You follow them, and that's it: their activity starts showing up for you. The other person doesn't have to agree, and they don't have to follow you back.
You can unfollow at any time, just as instantly.
Connecting is mutual and needs to be accepted
A connection is a two-way relationship, and the other person has to accept it.
- You send them a connection request. (Sending a request also starts you following them right away.)
- They get a notification about it.
- When they accept, the two of you become connections.
Until they accept, you're not connected yet. If they don't accept, nothing changes.
A quick comparison
| Following | Connecting | |
|---|---|---|
| Direction | One-way | Mutual (both sides) |
| Approval needed | No, it's instant | Yes, the other person accepts |
| Like... | Following an account | Becoming connected friends |
What you can see
Here's the part that trips people up: you can view another member's connections and followers only if you're connected to them. If you only follow someone, or have no relationship with them, those lists stay private to you. Becoming connected is what opens them up.