What You Need to Know About Instagram’s “Shadowban”?
Have you been noticing a dip in the engagement of your Instagram posts? Are there not as many free Instagram likes or comments on your content? Or worse, has your content stopped showing up in hashtags? If the answer to these questions is yes, there is a high chance your Instagram account is shadowbanned.
In this blog, we explain what is shadowban, how can your account get shadowbanned and some tips to fix it.
What is Instagram Shadowban?
Shadowbanning refers to blocking a user’s content in a way that the user is unaware it’s happening. If you are shadowbanned on Instagram, it means the social media platform is limiting your posts’ visibility to people who don’t follow you. Because of Instagram’s content suppression, your content fails to appear in the ‘search’ tab even when you have used relevant hashtags. This can be quite detrimental if you are aiming to grow your profile by garnering more followers for your profile. It defeats the whole purpose of growing your Instagram community using a hashtag to connect to more users who share a common interest.
How do I know I am a victim of Instagram Shadowbanning?
If you have witnessed a dramatic decline in your engagement, this could be a major hint that your profile is shadowbanned. However, as Instagram keeps changing its algorithm constantly, we can’t rule this out as a reason for the drop.
Nevertheless, here is what you can do to verify if you have been shadowbanned:
Hashtag Search
This is the easiest way to check for a shadowban on Instagram. First, post an image from your account and use uncommon hashtags for it. If you use a common hashtag, it will make it difficult to look for your post through a sea of other posts. Once you have posted the photo, ask 5 of your friends who don’t follow your account to search for that hashtag. If your post appears in the results, you are safe. If it doesn’t, it is likely you have been shadowbanned.
Instagram Analytics
If you have a business account, analyze the number of impressions, profile visits and other such metrics to see your engagement levels. A steep decline can let you know something is amiss.
What Can I Do to Fix the Instagram Shadowban?
Here are some helpful tips to prevent an Instagram shadowban:
Many a time, an innocent hashtag can become invaded with inappropriate content. Instagram notices this and either blocks the hashtag completely or limits its use. If you continue to use a broken hashtag, it can also prevent your other hashtags from ranking. You could also end up with a blocked account.
Avoid Getting Your Account Reported
An easy way to show up on Instagram’s showban radar is by getting your account reported by other users. If your account gets repeatedly reported, Instagram assumes it’s because you have been posting inappropriate content. Violating their terms and conditions is another reason they may fully disable your account or shadowban you.
Avoid Big Surges in Your Activity
In case you didn’t know, Instagram has put a constraint on how often you like, comment, follow or unfollow within an hour or day. If you suddenly follow 100 people within an hour and unfollow 45 of them, it thinks you are a bot and shadowbans you.
Closing Thoughts
Instagram shadowban can negatively impact your profile’s engagement and visibility. Plus, it can put a damper on your profile’s potential and growth. It is best to follow the terms and conditions of the social media platform to stay in its good books and avoid getting shadowbanned.
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