diff --git a/routers/web/explore/user.go b/routers/web/explore/user.go
index e349bb1e92..54b6531f26 100644
--- a/routers/web/explore/user.go
+++ b/routers/web/explore/user.go
@@ -63,9 +63,9 @@ func RenderUserSearch(ctx *context.Context, opts *user_model.SearchUserOptions,
 
 	switch sortOrder {
 	case "newest":
-		orderBy = "`user`.id DESC"
+		orderBy = "`user`.created_unix DESC"
 	case "oldest":
-		orderBy = "`user`.id ASC"
+		orderBy = "`user`.created_unix ASC"
 	case "leastupdate":
 		orderBy = "`user`.updated_unix ASC"
 	case "reversealphabetically":