Marketing

Am I shadowbanned on Instagram? Here is everything you need to know

Emanuel (Mano) Tsiris
Head of Marketing & Comms @ OneCliq.io

Are you concerned that your Instagram engagement has taken a nosedive? Fear not, you're not alone. Many Instagram users have reported a sudden drop in likes, comments, and general visibility of their posts. This mysterious phenomenon is often termed as 'Shadowban' by users. A shadowban on Instagram can limit your posts from appearing on the Explore page and certain hashtags, resulting in less engagement.

In this post, we will help you understand everything about Instagram shadowbans, how to detect if you've been shadowbanned, possible reasons, and most importantly, how to recover from it. Get ready to dive deep into the world of Instagram shadowbans and reclaim your Instagram reach. 🚀

How To Check If Instagram Has Shadowbanned You

While Instagram doesn't officially acknowledge the term 'shadowban', if you sense something's amiss, there are ways to confirm your suspicions. Here, we've put together a step-by-step guide to help you perform an Instagram shadowban test.

Check Account Status On Instagram Professional Account

If you have a business account on Instagram, you can easily check your Account Status. Here's how to do it:

  1. Open the Instagram app and tap your profile picture.
  2. Tap the hamburger icon (three horizontal bars) at the top right corner.
  3. In the popup menu, select 'Settings'.
  4. Tap 'Account'.
  5. Tap 'Account Status'.If every category has a green checkmark, your account is in good standing. However, if you see a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark on any category, it means there's trouble.

Use Instagram Insights

Another way to detect a potential Instagram shadowban is by comparing your posts' metrics before and after the suspected shadowban using Instagram Insights. If you notice a significant and sustained drop in your reach to the accounts that don’t follow you, it’s likely that you’ve been shadowbanned.

Check Hashtag Feeds

If you don't have a professional account, you can still check for shadowban using hashtag pages. When shadowbanned, your content is removed from hashtag feeds. Therefore, you can create a post using a hashtag and check that hashtag feed for your post. If your post is visible, your account is fine. If not, you've probably been shadowbanned.

Shadowbanned On Instagram – What Does It Mean?

A shadowban is essentially when Instagram limits the reach of your content on the platform without your knowledge. Your posts will appear in your followers' feeds but won't be visible to non-followers. Instagram executes this to filter out potentially harmful or inauthentic content and accounts.

Why Am I Shadowbanned?

Instagram usually shadowbans users who have violated the community guidelines or posted inappropriate content. Other reasons can be using untrustworthy bots to boost your Instagram following, using broken or banned hashtags, your account being reported, or engaging with content too much, too quickly.

5 Ways To Fix An Instagram Shadowban

Luckily, a shadowban isn't a life sentence. Here are some steps to recover from an Instagram shadowban:

Remove Any Bot Or Automated Service Immediately

If you're using any bot or automated service to boost your Instagram, it's time to remove them. They are probably the reason for your shadowban.

Avoid Broken Hashtags

Using banned or broken hashtags can lead to a shadowban. So, always ensure to use appropriate and relevant hashtags.

Take A Few Days Off

Yes, you heard it right! 🏖️ Taking a short break from Instagram can reset the system and restore your account.

Follow Instagram’s Guidelines

Following Instagram’s guidelines can prevent you from getting shadowbanned in the first place. So, make sure to abide by the rules.

Report The Issue To Instagram

If you believe that you haven't violated any guidelines and yet have been shadowbanned, you can report the issue to Instagram.

Next Steps

Now that you know what an Instagram shadowban is, how to check if you've been shadowbanned, and how to recover from it, it's time to take action. Start by checking your account status, removing any bots or automated services, and ensuring you're following Instagram's guidelines.

In case you're shadowbanned, don't panic. Use our practical tips to recover your account. Remember, Instagram is a dynamic platform, and things change rapidly. Stay informed, adapt, and keep engaging with your audience authentically. Also, don't forget to explore our other useful articles for more Instagram strategies. Happy Instagramming! 📱💕

Emanuel (Mano) Tsiris
Head of Marketing & Comms
Mano is a serial entrepreneur who is a part of the founding team behind OneCliq. His experience ranges from launching e-commerce businesses, to creating media businesses like food blogs and even web agencies. He is able to weave compelling stories, engaging audiences and driving substantial growth through his content - amassing over 40.9M+ organic views. Mano has over 6 years of experience in the entrepreneurial and brand building realm.

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