Do you feel like your Instagram posts aren’t reaching as many people as they used to? That your hashtags no longer have the desired effect? That the number of likes on your posts and the number of new followers have dropped (drastically or not)?
You could be the victim of a shadow ban. Find out everything you need to know about Instagram Shadowban in this article.
The Instagram shadowban: what is it?
Shadow ban or shadow banning on Instagram is an unofficial penalty imposed by Instagram on certain user accounts that violate its rules.
It is unofficial because the platform has never confirmed its existence. She even denied it while several users (influencers and creators in particular) continue to complain about it.
Being a punishment, shadowban results in less visibility of publications, a decrease in the engagement rate, non-appearance in search results for some hashtagsthe number of likes and followers, etc.
Did you know ? Shadowbanning on Instagram is not new. It has existed for many years and even constitutes a technique for moderating social networks.
What can cause a shadowban on Instagram?
Several factors can cause a shadowban on Instagram. Here are a few :
- Inappropriate behavior : Hateful content, harassment or offensive comments that go against Instagram’s rules.
- Misuse of banned hashtags : Instagram bans certain hashtags. If you persist in using them, there is a good chance that your account will end up being shadow banned.
- A content report : If several users start reporting your Instagram account for violating the social network’s rules, this will certainly have consequences.
- Using bots for automation purposes : Some people use bots to artificially increase their number of followers and likes, to comment or like, etc. However, Instagram is not very fond of this practice.
- Suspicious and unusual activity : If you suddenly change your browsing habits on the platform, your actions could be considered as Spam. This is the case, for example, when you send a lot of direct messages, post a lot of photos, unfollow several users, or add a lot of followers in a very short period of time.
- A dishonest content strategy : Instagram promotes authentic and qualitative content. If you try to deceive it by publishing duplicate content, your account will be penalized.
How do I know if my Instagram account has been subject to an Instagram shadowban?
It is quite difficult to determine whether an Instagram account has been shadow banned or not. And this, for the simple reason that shadowban is not an official practice. No one receives a notification that their account is penalized.
However, there is several signs that can suggest a shadowban as :
- A drop in engagement rate on publications: Fewer likes, comments or shares.
- A decrease in the number of new subscribers : If you are used to acquiring many new subscribers per day or per week, a sudden drop may imply a shadowban.
- The invisibility of hashtags : Your posts do not appear in search results for the hashtags you used. To confirm this, simply ask one of your friends who doesn’t follow you on the platform to do the research and show you what comes out.
- The non-appearance of your account in the friend suggestions or Instagram search results.
- A drop in the visibility of your content from your subscribers and other users (non-appearance in the feed): you can, for example, notice that the number of views on your real has decreased considerably.
Attention ! Always keep in mind that decreasing engagement on your posts is not definitive proof of a shadowban.
It can come from a lack of originality, regularity, etc. It could be that users have just grown tired of your content. If you have followed Instagram’s best practices, there is no reason for your account to be shadow banned.
How to avoid being subject to an Instagram shadowban?
To avoid shadowban on Instagram, it is imperative to respect the recommendations and policies of the platform. Below are some tips on how to avoid it:
- Familiarize yourself with the rules of the social network and make sure you respect them.
- Do not post inappropriate contentoffensive or infringing copyright (plagiarism).
- Use hashtags in moderation : don’t put too much on your publications (only the most relevant), they will weigh down your content. Also remember to make sure that the hashtags used are not banned on the platform. To do this, you can use tools such as Ingramer, Instavast or Preview App. Check each time because there may be changes over time.
- Avoid bots and automation of interactions on the platform.
- Don’t spam : Don’t post too much content at once and don’t send a lot of direct messages in a short time. Same thing for subscriptions and unsubscriptions. Avoid excessive behavior.
- Stay authentic and sincere with your community: Interact with them in a natural way (likes, comments, messages, etc.).
6 steps to get out of a shadowban on Instagram
There is no “official” method for contesting a shadowban on Instagram since, officially, it is a practice that does not exist. However, there are a few tips that can help you resolve the problem:
Step 1 – Report the problem to Instagram
Go to your account settings, click on Help Then to report a problem. Describe your concerns in detail in the box dedicated to this purpose, explain your doubt about the likelihood of a shadowban.
We don’t guarantee that Instagram will respond to you, but it may review the account and fix the problem.
Review your posts. Make sure thatthere are no problematic hashtags on it. And if so, remove or replace them.
Step 3 – Change your habits
If the problem is not with the hashtags, it may come from your actions on the platform. Make sure your practices are consistent with everything said in the previous paragraph.
Step 4 – Check your content for compliance with Instagram community rules
Remove all comments and posts that violate the platform’s policies.
Step 5 – Take a break for a few days
If it is true that your account has been shadow banned, take a break. Don’t post anything, do not interact on any posts And go off the grid for a few days (at least 48 hours). This can help reset thealgorithm and restore visibility to your account. (Find out in detail how the Instagram algorithm works in 2023)
Step 6 – Switch your professional account back to personal mode
Although it hasn’t really been confirmed, some users claim that their account returned to normal after they put back in personal mode for a few days. If this is true, it would mean that the platform is a bit unfair.
They want companies and brands to spend money on sponsored ads. Who knows ?
Can shadowban be permanent?
Shadowban on Instagram is usually not permanent. However, its duration can vary from a few days to a few weeks. Getting out of the shadowban depends on the seriousness of the offenses committed as well as the actions taken to resolve the problem.
The shadowban lasts around 14 days
Regarding the question: how long does a shadow ban last? Some users agree thatit lasts on average 14 days. However, for the online community, its effects persist even after the sanction is lifted.
Longer duration in the event of a recurrence
Also note that if your account has already been shadow banned before, the duration of the penalty may be a little longer and it will certainly be more so in the event of a recurrence.
If you don’t want your account to be shadow bannedthe principle is simple: respect the platform’s policies.