Has your viewer engagement on Instagram dropped recently? If yes, it’s highly likely that Instagram has shadowbanned your account. In this article, we will explain what Instagram shadowban is, how to check your Instagram account’s shadowban status, and some actionable tips to avoid the infamous Instagram shadowban.
How to Avoid Instagram Shadowban (2022)
What is an Instagram Shadowban?
A shadowban on Instagram refers to the state where the photo-sharing platform demotes your new posts and videos. Once your account gets shadowbanned, you will see a noticeable drop in reach and engagement. Read on to find out how you can check if Instagram shadowbanned your account.
Check If Instagram Account is Shadowbanned
To find out if Instagram has shadowbanned your account, use a hashtag that isn’t popular and post from your account. After sharing the post, search for the hashtag you used from a separate account that doesn’t follow you and check if you are seeing the post in the “Recent” section. If you see your post in the hashtag feed, your account is not shadowbanned. In case you do not see the post, it’s a sign that your account is restricted.
How to Avoid Instagram Shadowban and Remove It
1. Follow Community Guidelines
The easiest way to reduce your risk of getting shadowbanned on Instagram is to follow the company’s guidelines. It primarily involves respecting intellectual property rights, posting content appropriate for a wide range of audiences, creating a genuine fanbase, and more. If you want a detailed rundown on all the guidelines, visit the linked Instagram community guidelines help article.
2. Avoid Banned Hashtags
If you often use banned hashtags on Instagram, Instagram is likely to shadowban your account. At this point, you might be wondering how you could find out if you are using banned hashtags. An easy way to identify a banned hashtag is to search for it on Instagram.
If you see posts and videos in the hashtag’s search result, you can rest assured that it is not banned. On the flip side, if you don’t see posts for a hashtag, even if it is usually a popular one, chances are, Instagram has banned the hashtag.
3. Don’t Purchase Followers
Buying followers to increase your reach and engagement on Instagram is a recipe for disaster. The consequences of using bot followers for your account can range from a shadowban to a permanent ban. Unless you want to take risky gambles that could compromise your account, you should stay away from paid Instagram followers.
4. Check Third-party Account Access
It’s good practice to often monitor apps and websites that have access to your Instagram account. Open the Settings page and search “Apps and websites” to view the apps that have access to your account. If you find any suspicious apps here, remove them and reset your password to avoid Instagram shadowban and unauthorized access.
5. Don’t Use Irrelevant Hashtags
Are you someone who uses a variety of hashtags in a bid to attract more viewers, even if they are not necessarily relevant to the post? You could get your account shadowbanned. To avoid this situation, you could consider using hashtags that reflect the primary theme of your post.
6. Don’t Plagiarize Posts
If you often copy and repost the content of others without permission, Instagram users could report your account. When the moderation team reviews your account and finds you guilty of plagiarism, they could shadowban or even remove your account. Hence, creating original content is a sustainable way to grow on Instagram and avoid potential shadowbans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does Instagram shadowban last?
Although Instagram hasn’t officially confirmed this, users have noticed that an Instagram shadowban typically lasts for 14 days.
Q: How do I know if my hashtags are banned on Instagram?
You could search your hashtags in the search box to find if you’re using banned ones. You won’t find posts on banned hashtags.
Q: Why don’t my Instagram posts get likes anymore?
If you have been consistently getting likes and recently noticed a drop in engagement, chances are, your account is shadowbanned.
Avoid Shadowban on Instagram
Going through a shadowban on Instagram is never a pleasing experience, especially if you’re an artist. In case you found yourself in the middle of a shadowban, we hope these tips helped you navigate an exit route. For troubleshooting other Instagram-focused issues, check our dedicated articles on how to fix Instagram crashes and know if someone blocked you on Instagram.
