How to Check if You're Shadowbanned on Instagram & How to Fix It

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Simple ways to see if you’re in Instagram’s penalty box

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• Checking Account Status
|
• Hashtag Search Test
|
• Getting Un-Shadowbanned
|
• Video
|
• Expert Interview
|
• Expert Q&A

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Are you trying to figure out if you're shadowbanned on Instagram? Shadowbanning means you can still use your account, but your posts aren't being distributed to other users. In this article we'll go over two methods to determine if you've been shadowbanned, as well as a few things you can do to get un-shadowbanned on Instagram.

Quick Steps

1. Make a post on Instagram with a random hashtag (ideally one that isn't popular).
2. Have someone who doesn't follow you search for that hashtag on Instagram.
3. If your post doesn't show up, you are likely shadowbanned. Repeat this test a few times over the course of a few days for best results.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Checking Account Status

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1. 
   1
   Go to your Instagram profile and tap on the three-line menu icon. You can access your Instagram profile by tapping on your profile picture in the bottom-right corner, and the three-line menu icon is in the upper-right corner of your profile.
2. 
   2
   Select Settings and privacy. The settings option is the first one in the profile menu.
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3. 
   3
   Scroll down and tap on Account Status. It's under the More info and support setting near the bottom of the list, between the Help and About menu options.
4. 
   4
   Check that you have all green checkmarks. If Instagram has removed any of your posts or taken other actions against your account, that will be visible in this menu.

   • From the Account Status menu, you can request a review of your account if you feel like you were penalized unfairly.
   • While the Account Status menu can help, it isn't the only way to check if you've been shadowbanned. Consider doing a hashtag search test as well.
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Section 2 of 3:

Hashtag Search Test

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1. 
   1
   Ask someone who doesn't follow you on Instagram for help. You can also do this yourself if you have two Instagram accounts that don't follow each other, or you can make a new Instagram account to test if your main account is shadowbanned.
2. 
   2
   Make a post on Instagram with a unique hashtag. You can use a hashtag that already exists (but isn't banned) or you can make up something completely unique and brand new.

   • Avoid using popular hashtags, as this will make checking if you're shadowbanned difficult as your post may just be getting bumped off the page due to competition.
3. 
   3
   Search for the hashtag on your post. If you don't see your post show up in the search results, this is a good indicator that you're shadowbanned.

   • For best results, have a few people search for your post, and do this test multiple times over the course of a few days.
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Section 3 of 3:

Getting Un-Shadowbanned

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1. 
   1
   Remove any banned hashtags from your posts. A big reason you could be shadowbanned is by using banned hashtags. There are thousands of banned hashtags on Instagram—some make sense, especially those referring to harmful or hurtful things, but others (such as "#always", "#reel", and "#greatnight") aren't as obvious.

   • There are a few websites that collate all the banned hashtags on Instagram, such as MetaHashtags. Users on the Instagram Reddit page also post banned hashtags when they're found.
2. 
   2
   Limit how many actions you do per day. If you're interacting a lot with people on Instagram, you may notice that your account is getting shadowbanned. Instagram allows you to do 500 actions per day, and anything more may trigger their spam detection. Actions include follows, likes, comments, and DMs.
3. 
   3
   Make sure to comply with Instagram's rules and policies. If you're posting content that goes against Instagram's community guidelines or you're breaking Instagram's ToS in some other way, you could get shadowbanned. Stopping any rule-breaking behavior can help you get un-shadowbanned.
4. 
   4
   Report a problem to Instagram. If you've gone over your posts for banned hashtags, you've limited yourself to 500 actions or less per day, and you're not breaking any Instagram guidelines, you can report a problem inside the Instagram app.

   • Go to your profile, tap the three-line menu icon in the upper right, then tap Settings and privacy > Help > Report a problem.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  Why am I shadowbanned?

  

  Naveh Ben Dror
  Social Media Security Expert

  Naveh Ben Dror is a Social Media Security Expert and the CEO of Spikerz based in Tel Aviv, Israel. Naveh and his team provide social media protection for content creators, businesses, and enterprises. His professional background is in international brand marketing and e-commerce. Naveh received both his Bachelor of Law and MBA from Reichman University.

  

  Naveh Ben Dror

  Social Media Security Expert

  Expert Answer

  Your Instagram account might be suspended or shadow-banned for various reasons. This includes violating community guidelines by engaging in abusive behavior or spamming, using automation tools, or sharing inappropriate content like violence or nudity. Adhering to Instagram's rules and regulations is crucial to preventing shadowbanning and maintaining a positive experience for yourself and all users.

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