What happens when you get banned on Instagram?‍

What happens when you get banned on Instagram? In case of a ban, It's important to understand the reasons for it and follow the company's terms of service to avoid future bans. If you believe your account was banned by mistake, you may be able to appeal the ban by contacting Instagram's support team.

TL;DR & Summary

If you get banned on Instagram, it means that you have got your account blocked from accessing certain features or have been completely deleted from the platform. The reason for a ban can vary, but it is often due to violating the company's terms of service & user guidelines:

Some of the common reasons for a ban include:

• Posting spam or inappropriate content: This includes posting content that is offensive, sexually explicit, or otherwise violative of Instagram's user guidelines.

• Using automation tools: Instagram has strict rules against using tools that automate actions such as liking, commenting, or following other Instagram users.

• Creating fake accounts: Creating multiple accounts with the intent of manipulating the platform is a violation of Instagram's terms of service.

• Engaging in self-promotion: Instagram's policy prohibits the use of multiple accounts, including promoting third-party websites, products, or services.

• Using copyrighted material: Instagram has strict rules about using copyrighted material. If you're found using copyrighted content without permission, it could lead to a ban.

If you are banned from Instagram, you will receive a notification from Instagram, however, the severity of the ban varies and can range from temporary to permanent.

A temporary ban may prohibit you from certain actions such as posting content, or from accessing your account for a set period of time. A permanent ban will completely delete your account and prohibit you from creating a new one using the same information.

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What are the types of bans?

It's important to understand the reason for the ban and follow the company's terms of service to avoid these types of bans in the future. If you believe your account was banned by mistake, you can appeal to Instagram's support team.

There are several types of bans that Instagram can impose on an account:

#1 Shadow ban

This type of ban is not as severe as an account ban. In a shadow ban, your account is still active and your posts can be seen by your followers, but they are no longer visible to non-followers and are not searchable on the platform. The reason for this is often that Instagram has identified you as using automation tools or violating other policies that can manipulate reach and engagement.

Although Instagram used to claim against this concept in 2019, Instagram for Business published a post on the official Facebook page addressing shadow-banned accounts indirectly. Instagram cleverly didn't use the word "Shadow ban" anywhere but everybody knew what this was about.

#2 Action ban

This type of ban is usually temporary and it blocks certain actions such as commenting, liking, and following. This is usually implemented to prevent users from using automation tools or breaking Instagram's rules.

#3 Account ban

This type of ban is the most severe form of punishment. When an account is banned, it is no longer accessible by the user and all its contents are removed. This type of ban is often imposed on accounts that have engaged in particularly severe violations of the platform's terms of service such as posting illegal or offensive content.

Related: What is challenge_required on Instagram [& How to fix it?]

How long does Instagram ban last?

The length of an Instagram ban can vary depending on the severity of the violation and the specific terms of the ban. Instagram decides how long the ban will prevail. Some bans are temporary and may only last a few days, while others can be permanent and result in the deletion of the account.

Temporary bans will often prohibit the account from certain actions such as posting content or accessing the account for a set period of time. The length of these bans can range from a few hours to several days, or even weeks.

On the other hand, permanent bans result in the complete deletion of the account, this can happen in case of severe violations, or repeat violations of the platform's terms of service. Once an account is permanently banned, it can't be restored, and the user can't create another account using the same information or phone number.

It's important to follow Instagram's terms of service to avoid getting banned and If you believe that your account has been banned by mistake, you can contact Instagram support and provide evidence to appeal the ban.

Related: What is feedback_required on Instagram?

Reasons why you'd get banned from Instagram

It's important to understand and adhere to Instagram's terms of service and user guidelines to avoid getting banned from the platform. Remember that even a small mistake could cause a ban, be aware of Instagram's policies and guidelines, and think twice before you post something or use certain automation tools.

There are several reasons why an account can be banned on Instagram:

#1 Posting inappropriate or offensive content

Instagram has strict user guidelines that prohibit the posting of content that is sexually explicit, violent, or otherwise violative of the company's policies. Inappropriate content is not entertained by Instagram and is very strict about this. Since the majority of the users are adults, it's very common for publishers to create content that plays around the gray area.

#2 Using automation tools

Instagram has strict rules against using tools that automate actions such as liking, commenting, or following other users. These tools can be used to artificially inflate engagement and violate Instagram's terms of service. You will get your account banned if you abuse automation on the platform.

Instagram bans all accounts that automate too many posts and other engagement forms. All social media platforms are getting very strict about this since automation devalues the platform.

#3 Creating fake accounts

Creating multiple accounts with the intent of manipulating the platform is a violation of Instagram's terms of service. A spam account will eventually get banned. If you try to create a new account, that will be banned as well because Instagram blocks IP addresses. You can't use the same email address to signup for a new account. You will get that account banned immediately.

#4 Engaging in self-promotion

Instagram's policy prohibits the use of multiple accounts, including promoting third-party websites, products, or services. If you use third-party software to do some shady tricks or create too many accounts to engage, that's a violation as well.

When a user complains about your account, even that is considered as one of the negative trust score factors and you can get your account blocked.

#5 Violating Instagram's spam policies

Posting repetitive comments, sending multiple unsolicited direct messages, or creating fake engagements can be considered spam and can lead to an account ban. Instagram banned several accounts a couple of years ago because those were spam accounts.

#6 Harassment or bullying

Instagram prohibits any kind of bullying, harassment, or hate speech, any form of this will lead to an account ban as well. You can also get your account blocked if you harass or bully Instagram users in comments or DMs. The users can report your account for harassment and bullying, hence resulting in a ban.

#7 Mass follow-unfollow

Mass following and unfollowing is a tactic where a user follows a large number of accounts in a short period of time to get their account followed back. Then, after some time, the user will unfollow the majority of the accounts that didn't follow back, in an attempt to get a higher ratio of follow backs.

However, this is considered a violation of Instagram's terms of service, as it can be seen as an attempt to artificially inflate your follower count, and can lead to an account ban.

#8 Buying followers

Buying followers is the practice of purchasing fake followers for your Instagram account in an attempt to increase your follower count. Additionally, buying followers does not help you to build a genuine audience and it can damage your credibility and reputation on the platform. It's important to build an audience organically, by providing valuable and interesting content.

#9 Buying someone's account

Buying someone's account refers to purchasing an already existing Instagram account from its owner. It is a violation of Instagram's terms of service, and it can lead to account deactivation.

Furthermore, the account will likely lose its value due to account deactivation or breaking the terms of service.

It is better to build your account with real followers and an audience, rather than trying to buy one that's already been established. This is a short-term solution and it will not lead to any sustainable growth for a business or individual's purpose.

#10 Spam comments & DM

Spam comments and direct messages (DMs) refer to sending unsolicited, irrelevant, or automated messages or comments in bulk to multiple users. This tactic is often used to promote a product, service, or account. It is a violation of Instagram's terms of service and it can lead to account deactivation as it can be seen as an attempt to manipulate or mislead the community.

Furthermore, sending unwanted or irrelevant messages to a user is not respectful and can be seen as a violation of the user's privacy. It's important to keep your communication with other users respectful and relevant.

#11 Sexual content

Posting sexual content on Instagram is a violation of the platform's terms of service, and can result in account deactivation. This includes sharing sexually explicit images or videos, as well as making sexually suggestive or explicit statements or comments.

Additionally, sharing any form of sexual or violent content that is considered illegal, or posting content that could be seen as harassing or non-consensual sexual content, is strictly prohibited by Instagram's user guidelines and it can lead to more severe actions taken by the platform.

It's important to adhere to Instagram terms, be respectful, and keep a safe community space for all.

#12 Copyright infringement

Copyright infringement refers to the unauthorized use of someone else's copyrighted material, such as images, videos, or music, on Instagram. Posting copyrighted material without obtaining the rights or permissions to use it is a violation of Instagram's terms of service and can lead to account deactivation.

Additionally, it is not only a violation of Instagram's terms of service but it's also illegal and can lead to legal action. Always make sure to obtain proper rights or permissions to use copyrighted material and only post content that you created or have rights to use.

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What happens when you get banned on Instagram?

When you get banned on Instagram, it means that your account has been blocked from accessing certain features or has been completely deleted from the platform. The ban can happen for several reasons and the consequences can vary depending on the violation.

Here are some common consequences of getting banned on Instagram:

#1 Restricted access: Your account may be restricted from certain features such as posting, commenting, or direct messaging for a set period of time.

#2 Loss of followers: If your account is banned, you will lose all your followers, and all of your content will be deleted. Your profile and posts will no longer be accessible to others on the platform.

#3 Username gets banned: Your Instagram username is also banned and cannot use the same username again to create a new account. Additionally, you may be restricted from creating fresh accounts on Instagram using the same information or phone number as the banned account.

How to recover a banned Instagram account?

If your Instagram account has been banned, there are a few steps you can take to try to recover it:

#1 Take a break: If your account has been temporarily restricted or banned, one of the best things you can do is take a break from using Instagram. Give yourself some time to cool off and let the situation resolve itself.

#2 Get in touch with Instagram support: Reach out to Instagram's support team and explain your situation. Provide any information or evidence that may help to clear up any confusion or show that your account was banned by mistake.

#3 Verify your account: Sometimes, Instagram may prompt you to verify your account to confirm that you are the owner of the account. This can be done by providing a government-issued ID or through a verification code sent to your email or phone number associated with the account.

#4 Third-party apps & services: Some third-party apps and services claim to help recover banned Instagram accounts, but it is important to be aware that these services are not endorsed by Instagram and may not be effective. Using these services also may put your account in further jeopardy. Use them with caution or at your own risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

#1 Can Instagram permanently ban you?

Yes, Instagram can permanently ban an account if it violates the platform's terms of service or user guidelines. Permanently getting banned means that the account cannot be restored and the user is not allowed to create a fresh account using the same information or phone number.

#2 How do you know if you're in Instagram jail?

If you are in Instagram jail, you will not be able to post or interact with other users for a certain period of time, a message will appear saying "Action Blocked" if your account is temporarily restricted.

#3 What can get you banned on Instagram?

Instagram bans accounts for several reasons, including but not limited to: posting inappropriate or offensive content, using automation tools, creating fake accounts, buying followers or accounts, self-promotion, copyrighted material infringement, spamming, and harassment or bullying.

#4 Is the Instagram ban permanent?

An Instagram ban can be either temporary or permanent, the duration of a temporary ban can be for a few hours, days, or weeks and it prohibits the account from certain actions, while a permanent ban results in the complete deletion of the account.

#5 Why am I banned from Instagram?

If you have received a message from Instagram that your account has been banned, it means that your account has violated the platform's terms of service or community guidelines. You should review Instagram's policies and understand the reasons for the ban.

#6 What will Instagram ban me for?

Instagram can ban an account for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to: posting inappropriate or offensive content, using automation tools, creating fake accounts, buying followers or accounts, self-promotion, copyrighted material infringement, spamming, and harassment or bullying.

#7 Can you get banned on Instagram for no reason?

Your account may be banned by mistake, but in most cases, accounts are banned for a specific reason, such as violating Instagram's terms of service or community guidelines.

#8 Can I get my banned Instagram account back?

Recovering a banned account is possible but not guaranteed, if you believe that your account has been banned by mistake, you can contact Instagram support and provide evidence to appeal the ban.

#9 How to get unbanned on Instagram?

To get unbanned on Instagram, you can try reaching out to Instagram's support team and providing information or evidence that your account was banned by mistake. You may also be required to verify your account and make changes to your content or behavior. However, recovery of a banned account isn't guaranteed and it's important to understand the reasons for the ban and adhere to Instagram's policies.