
If you are reading this article then you’ve probably heard of the next big Instagram plague— far worse than the non chronological feed debacle and a thousand times worse than the infamous Instagram purge of 2014. The shadow ban. It’s here and it will seriously wreck your precious Instagram account. Whether you’ve been affected or not, read on to discover what causes it, how you can avoid it, and how you can un-shadowban your account.
What is an Instagram Shadowban?
The Instagram shadowban is when your hashtags become unsearchable, undiscoverable, and for all intents and purposes, invisible to anyone outside of your current followers.
You can still use hashtags and from your perspective everything seems dandy. When you click through your tags, your photos pop up where they should. Although, when a stranger searches for a hashtag that’s linked to your photo, like #pnw for example, your post will be totally missing on the gallery page, while other people’s photos are still displayed.
This hashtag specific ban means you will have a difficult time gaining a following, especially if you are a smaller account. Reversely, if you have painstakingly built a fantastic profile with a large fanbase, that account might become stagnant.
How do I know if I’ve been shadow banned?
Believe it or not, some people’s accounts have been banned for months and they are just noticing. Other users notice almost immediately. The primary sign is that you’ll see a drastic drop in engagement, and upon more investigation you’ll realize that virtually all of your likes and comments are coming from your current followers.
If you’ve noticed this downward trend, then you can conduct a hashtag test. You simply put up a new post and tag your photo with an underused hashtag that doesn’t get many updates. Then while you are still on your own account, click through to the hashtag gallery and look at precisely where your photo is located.
Then log onto another account that doesn’t follow/ interact with your profile. If your hashtag pops up, congrats, your account is in the clear. Sleep easy. But if the photo doesn’t show up where it should, you might be shadowbanned.
Update: Now you can use this shadowban checker.
Why did my account get shadow banned?
So you might be asking, why? Why me? I’m not a robot, I don’t use any third party apps, I don’t post nudes —I’m a maternity photographer for goodness sake!
Instagram hasn’t acknowledged this shadowban, let alone stated what actions will land you in time out. After exhaustive research, here is what might be causing your shadowban:
#1 You are using a broken or banned hashtag
We all know that certain tags like #booty is banned. Yet, sometimes perfectly innocent hashtags get overrun with so much spam and nudity that Instagram decides to nix the entire hashtag rather than sort through the rubbish. For example, #Newyears, #Instagirl, #eggplant and even #kansas are banned tags. Also, if you incorporate one banned hashtag into your post, it can essentially poison your entire set and render you invisible on all other legit hashtag galleries.
#2 You are using the same hashtags over and over again
Do you use the same set of 30 hashtags every time you post? Do you only switch up the last tag or two? Well, that might look a little spammy, as Instagram flags any repeat comments (or captions) you post.
#3 You’ve gone on liking sprees and mass following/ unfollowing
Instagram has a limit on how many actions you can make in an hour and if you go on a spree, IG will eventually block that action and say that you can’t use that feature for a while. But even if you don’t go over the limit, Instagram might recognize these surges of engagement as an Instagram bot on a liking rampage.
#4 Other users have reported you
Anyone you interact with can report your actions to Instagram HQ, and this is the one area of IG customer service where they act swiftly. So if you have been spamming, following/unfollowing rapidly, posting nude photos, stealing photos, or posting weird comments— some people might report your inappropriate behaviour, and you could be shadow banned instead of having your account outright deleted. Also, if you have been using the following/ unfollowing method you might be following/ unfollowing the same person a bunch of times, so much that they notice and report you.
#5 Using any kind of instagram automation software
This goes without saying but any service that claims to boost your account or perform any actions on Instagram on your behalf might be sabotaging you. In simple terms, anything automated is directly against Instagram’s terms of service. But maybe you have the automation set to slow speed, to mimic human actions on IG? Well, Instagram will find out anyways, because one minute your automation service is liking photos from an IP address in Washington then a few minutes later you comment on some posts from an IP address in New York. The algorithm will immediately recognize all of that as shifty behavior.
Is this a glitch or is Instagram doing it on purpose?
Instagram has released a statement vaguely addressing the invisible hashtag issue…
As you would guess, not many people are happy with this answer (and that’s putting it lightly).
The gist is that you should simply not lean on hashtags for growth and instead focus on other avenues, like creating good content and reaching out to potential followers. But hashtags are the main discovery mechanism on Instagram and growing your account without them is like going back to dial up internet.
Additionally, from what we’ve researched no one has personally heard back from Instagram if they reported this issue on the app. So for now, we are in the dark and at the mercy of the Instagram gods. But there are three valid theories which will help you make sense of the hysteria.
#1 Since this summer, Instagram has been changing their algorithms. Why? To crack down on automation services and Instagram bots. So one possibility is that the system is a little overzealous and is incorrectly punishing regular accounts. If this is true, the problem will be remedied when Instagram “gets the resources” and makes their algorithm smart enough to differentiate between bots and normal users, like yourself.
#2 Some people suspect that not enough business users are paying for ads on Instagram, especially considering Facebook’s acquisition of IG. So this could be the beginning of a pay-to-play system that has already been implemented on Facebook for businesses. Where your engagement is lowered automatically by the algorithm and you have run some ads to bring engagement back up.
#3 Many people suspect Instagram is deflecting from the issue, and will just continue to silence various accounts that appear spammy or don’t “behave well” via IG’s mostly unwritten engagement rules. Never communicating with the accounts as to not cause alarm. Scaring people straight with the constant threat of a shadow ban seems like an effective way to punish users who use get-followers-quick tactics.
How can I get my account back to normal?
We know, it sounds hopeless. Instagram’s customer support is notoriously silent in these sort of situations. But here’s what some other users have done to get the hashtag rights reinstated:
#1 Immediately stop suspicious activity
That means no more sprees of any kind. Make sure to do everything in even measure. What seems safe is to engage for a few minutes (5-10) every hour, like a few photos, post a unique comment specific to the post or photo, follow a new user, and like another photo in that order essentially. Don’t move too fast and don’t perform too many actions in a row or excessively.
#2 Revoke API permissions
Remember that one time you signed up for a follower tracker app and gave them your login info? Well, that could be the sole reason you are banned. So log onto your account and make sure that no other applications have access to your account. Additionally, if you have dabbled in any automation services in the past, they won’t show up on this authorized permissions page, because automation programs don’t use Instagram’s API in that way. If you can’t remember what service you used, or you are roped into some godforsaken annual plan, you’ll have to change your password to cut off the automation service.
#3 Switch from a business account to a personal account
It is possible that Instagram is trying to coax you into using ads. Businesses rely on engagement to increase sales, so decreasing reach could definitely force people to use sponsored posts. Reverting back to a personal account might be a way around this.
#4 Take a sabbatical
Take a few days off. Sign off and don’t log back in. No liking, no posts, and no following. Then when you get back on, ease back in slowly, and engage like you are being watched (because you probably are).
#5 Avoid growth hacks and engagement groups
Using 60 hashtags in your comment and caption? Following and unfollowing people by tracking them with a tracker app? Joined up with an engagement group that promises to like each other’s photos at a certain hour, in a certain way? Stop. It. All. These hacks may work for a brief second but if you get shadow banned then it’s all kind of pointless right?
#6 Delete questionable content
If you have posted anything that might be deemed questionable (this applies for hashtags too) go ahead and delete it. Getting rid of banned or reported clutter on your page might do the trick.
In the end, what matters is that you avoid anything spammy or questionable. If you follow these rules and recommendations there’s a good chance you can get your account back to normal. Have any of you been banned? Have any of these solutions helped? Anything that we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
This is spot on… I have a small personal account (just 1.2k following) and a few weeks back I was added to 3 interaction groups in one week.. I had no idea they were not allowed! Anyway, it’s resulted in me being shadow banned, I’m going on my second week now and its just awful…
I’m so upset and have tried everything you’ve suggested already… I did only log off for 1.5 days last weekend, and it seemed to release the ban for 24hrs, but as soon as I started interacting again, the ban returned immediately.. I’ve logged off again this morning and will not log back on for 3 days, in a desperate attempt to get my account back ?. I will be very cautious and have minimal activity once I return. I’ve also left all interaction groups, as I’m assuming this was the issue..? But there are loads of people in those groups that aren’t banned, so I don’t get it.? Sooool inconsistent.
I did use the hashtag “easter” which is apparently restricted as well..?
Thanks for the article! I’m glad I read it ☺ The shadow ban nonsense is just so disappointing, and I wish IG was more upfront with the cause, and how to resolve it… If for some reason by ban isn’t EVER lifted, is my only option to start a new account from scratch..? Some people have said IG recognises your IP address anyway, so there’s no point… ??? What a massive stuff up!
Cheers, Codie.
Hello there Codie!
So glad that you reached out!
First off, we thought the same about interaction groups– they seem kosher but many people have sadly seen a decrease in engagement since they joined up with such groups.
We’ve also heard the same reports about your IP address blocking new accounts. So starting from scratch is not an option 🙁 At this point the best advice is to keep posting for your current followers and hope that this shadowban nonsense gets remedied soon. Engagement on IG has gone down recently because of these banning issues so it seems likely that Instagram will fix the problem (eventually).
What is your IG handle? We will give you plenty of love 🙂
–Ty and the FCA crew
Thanks lovely.. I’ve just taken my 72 hr absence from IG, so tomorrow will be my return… Can you believe I’m nervous! ?
I’m amazed at how many accounts are now reporting to be affected. Even people who were released from their ban months ago, have ended up being banned again. So it seems that the methods to regain your account may work, but only temporarily ?.
Surely they need to fix this issue as it has such a harsh consequence, especially since I have no real clue as to how or why it has occurred? IG need to be more upfront about this, especially for those of us who are definitely not spam accounts…
My plan is to use no hashashtags at all this week, just post once per day, post twice per day to my ‘story’, and keep my activity to an absolute minimum..
My handle is @codie.and.co
It would be awesome for you to take a look and see if you notice anything that looks spammy.. or inappropriate..? We are big fans of small handmade businesses (especially for kids clothing) ❤
Fingers crossed I can regain full use of my account before I lose all my existing followers ??
Thanks again xox
Hello Ty!
Thank you so much for your post. I have a very small personal account (with little more than 200 posts and 600 followers). I use this account to share my passion for embroidery, and inspire my day. I love interacting with people, writing in both English and Italian comes natural and I ended up making a lot of friends in these past months. I am always on the lookout for similar minded people, fellow embroiders and as I do have quitea lot of free time …I share the ❤️ as they say!… I have a lot of engagement… so very much for such a small account. I posted last night and with 600 followers have 130 ❤️ And 69 comments. All of these come from followers. I suspected something was wrong last month because I stopped gaining new followers and had less likes … then I read a post about “shadow bans” … I picked up my husband’s IG and looked for my posts exactly where they were shown on my IG… and they were missing. I stopped using the app for 72 hours, and things seemed to be back to normal… but not quite… even though I continue to have a very high % of ❤️ And comments from my followers … there are no new people popping up.
What could I be doing wrong?
1. I used all 30 ### not always the same ones, but pretty much copying the same when the subject I was posting was the same.
2. I liked to see what my follower’s followers are up to… and when I see something I like I leave ❤️… ten? Twenty? Fifty? Never counted! I never follow to unfollow NEVER it leaves me crazy… so I would never do it to others. I don’t leave emoji/ bot like comments (either you have something to say …or just leave a like! )
3. When I started using IG I downloaded an app called followers + …not to buy followers but to keep track of my engagement and know who was playing the follow/unfollow game… I hated. I still use it.
4. About a month ago a friend from northern Italy, tired of DM individually a mutual group of friends, created a single group and it sort of works like WhatsApp… from long chats during the weekend to hello/goodnight during weekdays. Of course this group being of good friends that have been liking and commenting on each other’s posts for a long time …continue to do so… Can IG be thinking we have some sort of pod in place?…
I continue to pick my brain …it just seems impossible … and I was so happy with my account. It took forever to find the right ### and even with my small account … i managed to hit top posts in 80% of them,
When they were’t over 200 000 posts … and there were some cases in witch I got them all and scored even in ### that were 350 000… Those posts went from my average 120 ❤️ To 200 or even 350❤️…
I read a lot to “play” Instagram… as one day near I would like to have my own business… and now… I am quite at a loss.
If you could take a peep at my account I’m @rosa_marcolin. If any of the above reasons seems why IG has shadow banned me …please do say so…
thank you very much Ty!
❤️❤️❤️
Hey. I am also a victim of shadow ban. Been three weeks, my ban isn’t lifted. I haven’t posted any photos the last three weeks. Have you had any luck in lifting this ban?
Yes, one of the IG business accounts I manage had its ban lifted. Quite a few of the automation services (i.e. Mass Planner and Instagress) were taken down by IG recently, and since then many people have had their unwarranted bans lifted. There is hope my friend! 🙂
Sorry to just throw in a random rwply, but I just felt the need to let the writer of this article know that in the first paragraph under What is an Instantagram Shadowban? There is a sentence containing “for all intensive purposes” and the actual saying is “for all intents and purposes”.
Hey Jamie! Thank you so much haha. Now I will never forget that little eggcorn.
What?! This is awful! Luckily I haven’t been shadowbanned yet but now I’m terrified it will happen to me too… Instagram is just so NOT FUN.
I’m fairly new to IG, just had it for 3 weeks now and I’ve been shadow banned aswell today 🙁
A huge dissapointment since I tried my best to post quality content everyday, already reached 1k and now suddenly it can’t get any likes or new followers anymore..
I have heard about instagram shadowban but what about instagram followers increased by the genuine post.