Am I Shadowbanned on Instagram? How to Check and Fix It

Instagram does not use the word shadowban, but it does limit who sees some content. If a post or account breaks its Recommendations Guidelines, Instagram stops suggesting it to people who don't follow you in places like Explore, Reels and suggested posts in Feed, while your followers can still see it. The quickest way to check is Account Status in the app. It shows whether your content can be recommended, lists the posts causing problems, and lets you request a review if you think Instagram got it wrong.

What Instagram says about shadowbans

In May 2023, Instagram head Adam Mosseri wrote that some people use the term shadowban to mean an account or its content is limited or hidden without a clear explanation, and that this is not Instagram's intention. He also wrote that if anything makes your content less visible, you should know about it and be able to appeal.

What Instagram does have is a two-level system. The Community Guidelines decide what can stay on the app at all. The Recommendations Guidelines set a higher bar for content shown to people who don't follow you. A post can be allowed on Instagram and still not be recommended. The Recommendations Guidelines apply to content from public accounts. If your account is private, only your approved followers can see your posts anyway.

How to check if you are shadowbanned on Instagram

Account Status is Instagram's own answer to the shadowban question. Instagram says it shows removed content, whether your content can be recommended, whether your account can appear in Search and Suggested Accounts, and some features that may be limited. The recommendation check is for professional accounts (creator or business), so switch to one if you want to see it.

1. 1Open your profile. Tap your profile picture in the bottom right.
2. 2Open the menu. Tap the menu icon in the top right.
3. 3Find Account Status. Scroll to the section for more info and support and tap Account Status. Menu labels change from time to time, so search Settings for Account Status if you can't see it.
4. 4Read each section. Check removed content, recommendation eligibility, and any features that are limited. Tap a section to see what was flagged and why.

What causes an Instagram shadowban?

Content that breaks the Recommendations Guidelines

Instagram lists several kinds of content that are allowed but may not be recommended. These include sexually suggestive posts, violent content such as people fighting, posts promoting regulated products like tobacco or vaping, exaggerated health claims, misleading business models such as payday loans or "risk-free" investments, and claims rated false by independent fact-checkers. Your profile counts too. Account Status can flag your profile photo or bio if they go against the Recommendations Guidelines, and Instagram's creator team says this may make your whole account ineligible for a period of time.

Unoriginal or reposted content

Content taken from another source without adding much is not recommended. Instagram's creator team advises posting original content and not re-uploading Reels that are already on Instagram. If you work with another creator, it suggests a Collab post or tags instead of reposting their video. Mosseri has also said Instagram makes some Reels less visible, such as low-resolution or watermarked ones, Reels that are muted or mostly text, and Reels already posted on Instagram.

Repeated or recent rule breaks

Accounts that recently broke the Community Guidelines, or that repeatedly share content that is not recommended, are generally not recommended. Mosseri has said that if an account repeatedly breaks the Recommendations Guidelines or Community Guidelines, none of its posts are eligible for recommendation for a period of time. Instagram has not published how long that period is.

Spammy behaviour and fake engagement

Meta's spam policy covers posting or engaging at very high frequencies, whether by hand or with automation. It also prohibits buying, selling or exchanging likes, follows, views and other engagement. Instagram's Recommendations Guidelines say accounts that repeatedly use deceptive tactics to gain followers, such as buying likes, are generally not recommended. Engagement groups can count as exchanging engagement, and mass following, unfollowing or copy-paste commenting can fall under the high-frequency rule.

Restricted hashtags

Instagram has long hidden the recent posts on some hashtags when the tag is being used for content that breaks its rules, and shows a notice on the hashtag page instead. Instagram does not publish a list, and we found no official statement that using one restricts your whole account. Still, a hidden hashtag won't help anyone find you. Tap a hashtag before you use it, and stick to a few that actually describe the post. See do hashtags still work for more.

How to fix an Instagram shadowban and appeal

1. 1Find the cause. Open Account Status and look at the sample posts or profile parts Instagram has flagged, and which guideline it says they break.
2. 2Edit or remove what you agree with. If a post does break the guidelines, edit or delete it. Fix your bio or profile photo if those were flagged.
3. 3Request a review of what you don't. If you think Instagram made a mistake, tap the option to disagree or request a review from Account Status. If the option is offered, the review team will take another look.
4. 4Stop the behaviour. Pause any automation apps, mass following, engagement groups or bought engagement. Revoke access for third-party apps you no longer trust.
5. 5Keep posting good, original content. Account-level limits last for a period of time that Instagram doesn't publish. Keep posting original content that follows the guidelines, and check Account Status again to see when you are eligible.

Once you are eligible again, track whether people engage with what they see, not just raw reach. Compare your rate before and after with a benchmark like the one in our guide to a good engagement rate on Instagram.

Shadowbanned on TikTok too?

TikTok has its own rules. Its Community Guidelines list content that is not eligible for the For You feed, and TikTok says creators can see in their analytics if a video was made ineligible for recommendation. If your TikTok views have dropped as well, read our guide on how to check and fix a TikTok shadowban rather than applying the Instagram steps above.

Where bought engagement fits

We sell Instagram growth services, so here is the honest version. Meta's rules prohibit buying engagement, and Instagram says repeatedly using deceptive tactics like buying likes can make an account ineligible for recommendations. Bought followers, likes or views also don't make a post more original or a hook stronger. If your account is restricted, sort that out first and don't add anything paid until Account Status is clear. Our guide on whether it is safe to buy Instagram followers covers the risks in more detail.