diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/activity.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/activity.js
index ad778da7f5..c51647dca8 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/activity.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/activity.js
@@ -537,8 +537,8 @@ run_test('first/prev/next', () => {
 
     buddy_list.container.append = () => {};
 
-    activity.insert_user_into_list(alice.user_id);
-    activity.insert_user_into_list(fred.user_id);
+    activity.redraw_user(alice.user_id);
+    activity.redraw_user(fred.user_id);
 
     assert.equal(buddy_list.first_key(), alice.user_id);
     assert.equal(buddy_list.prev_key(alice.user_id), undefined);
@@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ run_test('insert_one_user_into_empty_list', () => {
     };
 
     clear_buddy_list();
-    activity.insert_user_into_list(alice.user_id);
+    activity.redraw_user(alice.user_id);
     assert(appended_html.indexOf('data-user-id="1"') > 0);
     assert(appended_html.indexOf('user_active') > 0);
 });
@@ -619,11 +619,11 @@ run_test('insert_alice_then_fred', () => {
         appended_html = html;
     };
 
-    activity.insert_user_into_list(alice.user_id);
+    activity.redraw_user(alice.user_id);
     assert(appended_html.indexOf('data-user-id="1"') > 0);
     assert(appended_html.indexOf('user_active') > 0);
 
-    activity.insert_user_into_list(fred.user_id);
+    activity.redraw_user(fred.user_id);
     assert(appended_html.indexOf('data-user-id="2"') > 0);
     assert(appended_html.indexOf('user_active') > 0);
 });
@@ -638,7 +638,7 @@ run_test('insert_fred_then_alice_then_rename', () => {
         appended_html = html;
     };
 
-    activity.insert_user_into_list(fred.user_id);
+    activity.redraw_user(fred.user_id);
     assert(appended_html.indexOf('data-user-id="2"') > 0);
     assert(appended_html.indexOf('user_active') > 0);
 
@@ -650,7 +650,7 @@ run_test('insert_fred_then_alice_then_rename', () => {
         inserted_html = html;
     };
 
-    activity.insert_user_into_list(alice.user_id);
+    activity.redraw_user(alice.user_id);
     assert(inserted_html.indexOf('data-user-id="1"') > 0);
     assert(inserted_html.indexOf('user_active') > 0);
 
@@ -669,7 +669,7 @@ run_test('insert_fred_then_alice_then_rename', () => {
         inserted_html = html;
     };
 
-    activity.insert_user_into_list(fred_with_new_name.user_id);
+    activity.redraw_user(fred_with_new_name.user_id);
     assert(appended_html.indexOf('data-user-id="2"') > 0);
 
     // restore old Fred data
@@ -685,14 +685,14 @@ run_test('insert_unfiltered_user_with_filter', () => {
     // match the search filter.
     const user_filter = $('.user-list-filter');
     user_filter.val('do-not-match-filter');
-    activity.insert_user_into_list(fred.user_id);
+    activity.redraw_user(fred.user_id);
 });
 
 run_test('realm_presence_disabled', () => {
     page_params.realm_presence_disabled = true;
     unread.suppress_unread_counts = false;
 
-    activity.insert_user_into_list();
+    activity.redraw_user();
     activity.build_user_sidebar();
 
     real_update_huddles();
diff --git a/static/js/activity.js b/static/js/activity.js
index 025aec7b5b..e53bcf6c29 100644
--- a/static/js/activity.js
+++ b/static/js/activity.js
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ function focus_lost() {
     exports.has_focus = false;
 }
 
-exports.insert_user_into_list = function (user_id) {
+exports.redraw_user = function (user_id) {
     if (page_params.realm_presence_disabled) {
         return;
     }
@@ -388,18 +388,18 @@ exports.update_presence_info = function (email, info, server_time) {
     }
 
     presence.set_info_for_user(user_id, info, server_time);
-    exports.insert_user_into_list(user_id);
+    exports.redraw_user(user_id);
     exports.update_huddles();
 };
 
 exports.on_set_away = function (user_id) {
     user_status.set_away(user_id);
-    exports.insert_user_into_list(user_id);
+    exports.redraw_user(user_id);
 };
 
 exports.on_revoke_away = function (user_id) {
     user_status.revoke_away(user_id);
-    exports.insert_user_into_list(user_id);
+    exports.redraw_user(user_id);
 };
 
 exports.redraw = function () {