finsta

A finsta is a secret or second Instagram account, shared only with close friends. The name blends “fake” and “Instagram.”

What does finsta mean?

A finsta is the opposite of a polished main account. Where someone’s “rinsta” (real Instagram) shows curated photos for everyone, their finsta is private and casual: blurry selfies, inside jokes, rants and unflattering moments, seen only by a handful of trusted followers. Merriam-Webster defines it as a secret or incognito Instagram account.

Ironically, the “fake” account is often where people are most themselves.

How to use finsta

• “I only post the embarrassing stuff on my finsta.”
• “She added me to her finsta, we’re officially close friends.”
• “Don’t put that on your main, put it on your finsta.”
• “Half of what I know about my friends I learned from their finstas.”

Finsta vs. close friends

Instagram later added a “Close Friends” option for stories, which gives some of the same privacy on a single account. Many people still keep a finsta because it separates audiences more completely, for example keeping parents, coworkers or exes away.

Where finsta comes from

Merriam-Webster dates finsta to 2013 and added it to the dictionary in 2023. The term spread among teenagers and young adults as Instagram became the main place to share photos, and as main accounts grew more curated.

Related terms

• Oomf: one of my followers.
• Subtweet: a post about someone that doesn’t name them.
• DM: direct message.
• Face reveal: showing your face online for the first time.

See more terms like this in our internet slang dictionary.