Instagram Shadowban (2024): What It Is And How To Remove It
Written by Andrew Lee
Has your engagement dropped on Instagram recently? There’s a chance that your IG account could be shadowbanned.
In this article, you’re going to learn:
What is shadowbanning on Instagram?
Why your account might be affected
Is the IG shadow ban a real thing?
How to test and fix your Instagram account to see if you’re shadowbanned (and how to prevent it from happening in the future)
What are banned hashtags, how banned hashtags can ruin your account, and what to do if you accidentally used them in the past
The full (constantly updated) list of banned hashtags on Instagram
What is the Instagram Shadowban?
Instagram is actively limiting the reach of accounts that they label as “low quality”.
What happens when you’re shadowbanned?
Once you’re hit with a shadowban, your followers no longer see any of your content appear in their feeds, your posts don’t show up for hashtags, and you don’t show up in the Explore page.
Here’s what it looks like when you’re suddenly hit with a shadowban:
As you can imagine, a shadowban can be absolutely devastating for an account (especially if you rely on Instagram for your business or brand).
If you’re unlucky enough to be hit with a shadowban, the only way for people to see the content you post is to manually search your IG handle and visit your profile.
In rare cases, Instagram also hides your profile from showing up in search (see below).
Does the Instagram Shadowban actually exist?
According to Instagram, the IG Shadowban does not exist and it’s a common misconception to think otherwise.
However, if you spend just a few minutes digging around on IG, you’ll find account after account complaining that their followers are unable to find their posts in their feeds (or when searching for different hashtags).
Browse some of my other helpful guides:
Important note:
Internet personality Mia Khalifa revealed that she met privately with Instagram employees at the company’s headquarters where they went over details of shadowbanning.
Instagram not only confirmed that the shadowban was real but also revealed that the system has a specific list of criteria that it’s watching for before it decides to limit your account.
Here’s what’s important to know:
Instagram has a number of banned hashtags that it doesn’t want you to use.
If you accidentally use a banned hashtag in a caption, comment, story, or reel, your entire account could be restricted.
What this means:
Your posts won’t show up for your followers in their feeds and you won’t be able to reach the explore page with your content.
In some rare cases, users have reported that their accounts were banned entirely right after using one of IG’s banned hashtags (using them in comments or posts).
What exactly is a banned hashtag?
For example, #Snapchat isn’t allowed on Instagram’s platform and you will be punished by the algorithm if you attempt to use this tag in your posts.
Important note:
Not all banned hashtags are as obvious as you’d think (some hashtags don’t even have to violate Instagram’s Community Guidelines at all).
For example, common terms such as #pushups, #alone, #brain are all banned hashtags on Instagram.
complete list of banned Instagram hashtags In 2024:
(This list was updated on January 24, 2024)
#anorexia
#alone
#a$$
#antivax
#abdl
#addmysc
#adulting
#always
#armparty
#asiangirl
B
#beautyblogger
#bikinibody
#boho
#blogladrona
#brain
#besties
#bikinibod
C
#costumes
#curvygirls
#cancer
D
#date
#dating
#desk
#dm
E
#elevator
#edm
#endme
F
#followtrain
#followtrains
G
#graffitiigers
#girlsonly
#gloves
H
#hardworkpaysoff
#happythanksgiving
#humpday
#hustler
#hotgirls
I
#iphonegraphy
#italiano
#ifb
K
#kansas
#killingit
#kissing
#kill
#killme
#killyourself
#kys
M
#master
#models
#mustfollow
#milf
#midget
N
#nasty
#newyearsday
P
#petite
#petitegirls
#pushups (frequently is shadowbanned)
#payme
S
#saltwater
#shit
#shower
#single
#singlelife
#skype
#snap
#snapchat
#snapchatme
#snowstorm
#sopretty
#stranger
#streetphoto
#sunbathing
#swole
#suicide
#suicideawareness
T
#tag4like
#tanlines
#teens
#teen
#thought
#tanlines
#todayimwearing
#thought
U
#undies
#unbalanced
V
#valentinesday
W
#workflow
Y
#youngmodel
#yolo
Quick note:
I run a free app called PostBuilder that lets you:
Schedule stories and posts
Use 40+ custom fonts for your bio and captions
Preview what your posts will look like before you post
Make perfect line breaks for your Instagram captions, bios, and comments
Store unlimited future posts and captions and organize them in your drafts
Does not require you to login with Instagram and is fully compliant with Instagram’s Terms of Service
PostBuilder is an all-in-one Instagram management app that saves you a massive amount of time when you’re trying to grow your brand on Instagram.
Important note:
I also run an app called PicMerger that lets you stitch photos together side by side, make photo collages sized for Instagram, size your photos in a perfect square, and other picture editing tools that save you time and effort when creating content.
How To Test If You’re Shadowbanned On Instagram In 2024
If you’re wanting to know if your latest post has been hit by the Instagram shadowban, follow these simple steps:
Make your new post on IG using your intended hashtags
Have a few people that you know go search for those hashtags and try to find your post in recent posts
If people are able to find your recent post for that hashtag, you weren’t shadowbanned.
If they’re unable to find your post when searching for hashtags you used, you’re almost certainly being affected by the algorithm / shadowban.
Important to note:
When checking if your post is showing up for hashtags, you have to use another device and IG account.
Instagram’s algorithm is extremely sophisticated and if you switch over to another account on your own device, it will still show you your posts (even if you’re shadowbanned).
how to Fix The instagram shadowban
1. Remove any questionable 3rd party apps or software that have access to your Instagram account.
To check what apps and websites have access to your IG account:
Sign into IG on desktop
Go to “Settings”
Go to “Apps and Websites”
Remove potentially questionable apps and websites that have access to your Instagram account.
For example, if you have used any “free likes and followers” apps in the past, remove these as soon as possible.
2. Stop using bots, automation, or engagement pods to try to get around the IG algorithm
It’s 2024 and the Instagram algorithm is highly sophisticated.
You’re not going to outsmart or game the algorithm.
If you’re using bots or automation software to leave fake comments and likes, you’re going to eventually be found out and punished.
The only long-term option going forward on Instagram is to abide by the IG Terms of Service and grow your account the right way (without trying to take shortcuts).
3. Avoid using banned and recently blacklisted hashtags
We went over the usage of banned hashtags and the risks involved, but the list of hashtags that Instagram blacklists is constantly updating.
For example, during the holidays or big events, #Christmas, #Thanksgiving, #4thOfJuly or any of these types of hashtags will be used by millions of people.
In the past, Instagram has shadowbanned holiday hashtags without any warning.
Be cautious when using generic hashtags like these.
4. Avoid using repetitive or irrelevant hashtags over and over
Instagram’s algorithm wants new and fresh content on the platform.
If you’re using irrelevant hashtags, or if you’re using the same hashtags over and over in posts… you’re going to get hit by the Instagram Shadowban (eventually).
Here’s what to do instead:
You should only be using highly relevant hashtags in your posts.
Don’t use generic hashtags like #love, #happy #sad, #glad, et cetera.
Important note:
When you’re adding your hashtags to your post, always add it to your caption… not to your first comment.
Why?
You can’t edit comments.
If Instagram decides to shadowban an old hashtag that you used and you posted your tags in the description, you can simply go in and remove that one tag.
Why this matters:
If you always add your hashtags to your comments and you get hit by a shadowban, you won’t be able to go in and edit out the banned tags individually… you’ll be forced to remove all of your hashtags (even the ones that weren’t affected).
5. Reach out to Instagram through their app’s support page
Once you remove the potentially questionable 3rd party apps or software that had authorization access on your account, you need to reach out to Instagram through the IG app.
Instagram support actually does read support requests like these, even though you most likely won’t get an email reply from them when you send them a request.
Here’s what you need to say:
You need to inform IG in your message that your followers are not able to see your posts in their feeds and they aren’t able to find you in search.
Important note:
Do NOT mention you suspect you are under a shadowbox. Just describe what is happening and explain that this is hurting your brand/business because of this bug.
6. Commenting, Liking, or DMing too much
The shadowban is also watching for any spam or non-human activity.
If you’re making 40 comments in 1 hour, Instagram could potentially mistake you for a bot and punish your account.
Also, if you’re sending a bunch of DMs all at once to a mass of people, Instagram could think you’re a bot or you’re using some sort of 3rd party software.
Bottom line:
Act like a human. Don’t be mistaken for a bot.
The algorithm makes mistakes, don’t take the risk of being labeled a bot by Instagram’s AI.
7. You’re getting reported
If you’re getting reported by many different accounts frequently, you can also be affected by the shadowban.
If you’re sending spam DMs, comments, or story replies and you’re getting reported by other users, Instagram will punish you.
Important note:
Although you most likely won’t be shadowbanned or restricted right away if you get a few reports on your account, if you get enough of them in a short span of time, you can absolutely get restricted, shadowbanned, and even permanently suspended.
8. Take a break from Instagram for a few days or even a week
Many people have come out and shown that after taking 2-7 days off from Instagram, their shadowbans were lifted.
Bonus Instagram tip:
Should you put your hashtags in your Instagram caption or in the comment below your post?
At the end of August of 2021, Adam Mosseri (current head of Instagram) publicly announced on his official Instagram @Mosseri that the Instagram algorithm favors posts when hashtags are placed inside the caption.
Although many argue that it’s more aesthetically pleasing when you bury your hashtags in your IG post’s comments.
Instagram has publicly declared that you should always post your hashtags inside your captions for any type of content on Instagram (posts, Reels, IGTV, et cetera)… if you want to fully appease the Instagram algorithm.
In conclusion:
There are no shortcuts when it comes to growing an audience on Instagram.
If you’re trying to game the algorithm, you’ve already lost.
The days of being able to use shady tactics to grow your account are over.
If you want to win on Instagram (without getting restricted or shadowbanned) you’re going to have to play by Instagram’s rules and follow their Community Guidelines, Terms of Use, and Official Recommendations.
Did I miss anything?
Leave me a note at Andrew@AndrewLee.Ventures and tell me what I’m missing.
*This article was originally published on October 13, 2017 and was updated on January 24, 2024.