An Instagram shadowban refers to an unofficial action taken by the social network that reduces the visibility of your posts, making it harder for others to find your content. This typically occurs when the platform identifies an activity it considers spammy or violates its terms of use.
The term “shadowban,” which can be translated as “hidden ban,” was coined by users. While Meta, Instagram’s parent company, doesn’t officially acknowledge the term “shadowban,” they confirm that they have systems to penalize accounts that break the rules.
What can generate a shadowban?
According to public reports, you can be shadowbanned on Instagram if your content is removed or if you engage in inappropriate or harmful practices. These practices include:
Here’s a clearer summary of what can lead to an Instagram shadowban:
1. Inappropriate Content: Posting content that violates Instagram’s Community Guidelines, such as sensitive material, hate speech, or spam, can result in a shadowban.
2. User Complaints: If other users report your content, Instagram might remove your posts and restrict your account’s visibility.
3. Copyright Infringement: Using copyrighted music, videos, or other materials without proper attribution can harm your account’s reach, especially if the original creators remove the content.
4. Banned Hashtags: Using hashtags that are prohibited or associated with spam or excessively using hashtags can trigger a shadow ban.
5. Use of Bots: Employing bots to follow, like, or comment on posts automatically can be flagged as suspicious activity by Instagram.
6. Spammy Behavior: Repeatedly posting the same content, excessively commenting, or sending mass messages can be interpreted as spam by the platform’s algorithms.
7. Inauthentic Followers: Engaging in follow-for-follow schemes or other tactics to boost your follower count artificially can lead to penalties from Instagram.
How do I know if I’m shadowbanned?
When you’re shadowbanned, your posts won’t reach as many people, leading to fewer likes, comments, and interactions. Your profile might also not show up in search results on Instagram.
Although Meta doesn’t officially acknowledge the shadowban, you can check your “Account Status” to see if any content has been removed from your profile, which could be affecting your visibility.
Here’s how to analyze the status of your Instagram account:
- Open your Instagram profile page;
- Tap the gear button and open “Settings”;
- Go to “Account Status”;
- Check for signs about your activities.
In this section, you can find more details about what counts as inappropriate content and request a review if Instagram removed any of your posts.
To check if your account is shadowbanned, you can ask someone who doesn’t follow you to search for your profile. If they can’t find it, you’ve likely been shadowbanned.
How to get out of Instagram Shadowban
Based on users’ experiences, Instagram can shadowban you for anywhere from 30 to 90 days. Accounts that frequently have content removed often face the maximum penalty.
During this period, there’s no way to lift the ban early. Your only option is to request a review of the removed content if you believe it was taken down by mistake.
- Open your profile page;
- Enter in Settings > Account Status;
- Open “Removed Content”;
- Request a reassessment of the removals.
If Instagram agrees that the removal was unnecessary, your post will be reinstated, and your profile will be unbanned. Otherwise, you will have to wait out the ban period.
What to do if you are shadowbanned
While under a shadowban, keeping up your activities to maintain as much engagement as possible is essential. Following good practices can help lessen the impact of the ban.
Here are some actions you can take:
- Post new content that complies with Instagram’s guidelines.
- Interact naturally with other accounts.
- Stay engaged with your existing followers.
You can explore how Instagram’s recommendation algorithm works and learn more about the shadowban process.
