Use follower count as a gate, not a grade. It answers one practical question fast: does this creator fit the size range in the brief? The rest of the decision needs better evidence.
Start with the platform. Instagram and TikTok report followers. YouTube reports subscribers, and its public values follow different rules. Keeping those labels straight sounds small. It prevents bad comparisons later.
Choose Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube.
Paste the creator's public @handle or profile URL.
Check the profile, count, and timestamp in the result.
Save the dated value if you plan to compare growth later.