What contacts are

Everyone who has interacted with you, grouped by person instead of by conversation.

The inbox groups messages by conversation. Contacts groups them by person, so you can see everything about someone in one row.

A contact is created automatically the first time someone interacts with you. Contacts are unlimited on every plan.

What each contact shows

FieldMeaning
UsernameTheir Instagram handle, when it is known.
First and last seenTheir first and most recent interaction with you.
ConversationsHow many comment threads and DM threads they appear in.
Received and sentHow many messages each way.
Last message from themThe clock the 24 hour reply window runs from.
Follow stateSee below.

Follow state has three values, not two

Shown asMeans
Not askeddmrabbit has never been able to check.
AskedThey were sent a follow request and have not confirmed.
FollowsConfirmed following.

"Not asked" does not mean they do not follow you. Instagram only reveals follow status after someone messages you, so for most people it is genuinely unknown. Treating it as a no would be inventing an answer about a real person.

Finding people

Search by username, and filter by channel, follow state, blocked status, or reachable - the people you could send a DM to right now under the 24 hour rule. Every column you would want to sort by can be sorted.

Filters live in the address bar, so a view you use often can be bookmarked and it will still be there tomorrow.