Side note: Sometimes you’ll receive unwanted attention that can cross the line into harassment or bullying. In cases like that, block the user and report them to Instagram.

.@Romeo and @Juliet sitting in a tree. First come the likes, then come the comments and the DMs.

If you want your Dulcinea to know that you’re categorically interested, you will have to do more than check their Stories and post thirst traps. Attend to their profile page, where you can see all their photos, as well. Paying a compliment on Instagram is as simple as liking a few photos. “One ‘like’ could be, ‘I randomly liked your stuff’” Mr. Keller said. “Two is, ‘I like two of your photos.’ Three is, ‘I’m intentionally trying to get your attention.’ It’s the equivalent of eyeing someone in a bar.”

“Commenting would be equivalent to walking up to someone and saying a very basic hello,” Mr. Keller said. “The DMing is the official, ‘I’m here and I’m not playing around.’” Ms. Fisher agreed: “Once they’re in your DMs and they’re commenting on things, that’s when they’re trying to make a move.” As in real life, reciprocation is important. “You, of course, have to wait a little bit to see if they like your photos back,” Mr. Keller said. “It’s the same as if you’re looking at someone at the club and they’re not looking back.”

Another factor to keep in mind in the era of Insta-fame is how many followers your romantic interest has. “Anyone above 75,000 is probably not going to notice you if you like their stuff,” Mr. Keller said. “If they like your stuff, that’s a different ball game because it means they went out of their way. Then it’s, ‘Ding, ding, ding.’”

And though Instagram can offer more depth than an abbreviated Tinder or Bumble or Grindr profile, do not forget that it is still a curated highlight reel. “I’ve had guys straight up refuse to believe that I’m me,” said Kris Kidd, 24, a writer and model in Los Angeles with more than 24,000 followers on Instagram. When men meet him IRL, they are surprised to find that his real-life personality is not as exaggerated as his Instagram persona. “It’s a two-dimensional platform, which inherently means we can’t see everything. It would be really unhealthy to show all of ourselves on social media.”

Adjust your expectations accordingly.

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Unfortunately, Instagram is not all romance and daisies. In some cases, rather than serving as a conduit for an attraction, Instagram is a reminder of what is gone.