Hmmm. Where is your Instagram post and why isn’t it showing up on other people’s feeds? You don’t think you’ve done anything wrong and you worked so hard on perfecting your latest Instagram post but as far as you’re aware, not many people are seeing it. You’ve used the right hashtags, you’ve checked the Explore page but no, you can’t see it! At the very least, your family and friends have liked and commented, but it’s not getting the engagement it should, and it looks ok to you! You’ve even checked. You’ve spoken to some of your followers, but they haven’t seen your post. It’s not the first time either, in fact, it seems to be happening with increased frequency. We think we’ve got the answer. You’ve been Instagram Shadow Banned! What does Shadow Banned mean? What can you do about it? Read on and we’ll tell you all about it.
Understanding Shadow Banned
Instagram Shadowban or being Instagram Shadow Banned means that a user’s Instagram content has been hidden or restricted, but the user hasn’t been told. What does Shadow Banned mean? It’s usually because a user has violated Instagram’s community guidelines or the content isn’t appropriate for the social media platform. You can read the Instagram community guidelines here to make sure your content confirms: https://help.instagram.com/477434105621119. So if you’ve done something wrong, your content won’t appear. Not only will it not appear in anyone’s feed, it won’t appear in the Explore section or the hashtag area (unless it’s your followers, they’ll find your post there).
When it comes to growing your Instagram account and gaining new followers, a Shadowban is catastrophic! However, Instagram has a specific objective and that’s to remove anything inappropriate from view. It does make sense. There’ve been countless terrorist-related posts, self-harm posts, anorexia posts and others that influence people to do the same. The problem is, Instagram doesn’t tell you when they’re Shadowbanning you which means you might not notice for a while.
As well as posting inappropriate content, there are other reasons why your account might experience a Shadowban. If you’re using an unreputable business to gain Instagram followers, you might get a Shadowban. This is why it’s really important that you choose a reputable company who deal with genuine Instagram accounts that align with your brand or business. Choose carefully when looking for cheap Instagram likes, or you could end up with a Shadowban!
What Does Shadow Banned Mean – Choose Your Hashtags Carefully
You may experience what a Shadowban is on Instagram if you use too many hashtags that don’t relate to your content. When that happens, Instagram hides your content because it’s perceived as hashtag spam. Instagram sees your post as unhelpful and not genuine, and that’s why it doesn’t appear in feeds. Always select your hashtags carefully and use those that are relevant to your post. Don’t over-use hashtags. While Instagram has a limit of only 30 per post, don’t use all 30 options. It’s best to stick to approximately 6 to 9 as a maximum. This will help you to avoid a Shadowban on Instagram.
What is Shadow Banned and Why Doesn’t Instagram Publicize it?
A Shadowban isn’t an Instagram term but it’s something that was dreamt up to describe what happens when someone’s posts don’t appear. The platform have never admitted to Shadowbanning but in 2019 they did make a statement on their Facebook business page discussing why some users had their content hidden, when using specific hashtags. The statement reinforced how to post successfully on Instagram and included some of the following information, helping you to find out what does Shadow Banned mean?
- Focus on your business objective rather than just hashtags.
- Targe the right audience with your post.
- Create good content and be creative.
- Include your logo on your profile page and use an element of it to make you stand out in the community.
- Tell a story that resonates with your business goals, match the imagery and caption to your story and use relevant hashtags.
Of course, Instagram often updates its own algorithm so you might not be the victim of a Shadowban, it could just be the algorithm. In which case, keep an eye on your content and perhaps look at a competitor’s high performing post, and emulate it (without copying it).
What does Shadow Banned Mean, and Have I Become a Victim?
To find out if you’re a victim of a Shadowban, you need to perform a test. Post a new image to Instagram and use a lesser-known and lesser-used hashtag. Post it and then ask a few people to search your hashtag. If you can’t be found, we’re pretty sure you’re the victim of an Instagram Shadowban.
If only a couple of people see your post, you might just have a drop in your follower engagement. You should check your Instagram Insights and if you see a sudden reduction in your engagement, then it’s a Shadowban but if not, then your engagement has dropped naturally. If you now know what Shadow Banned means and you’re a victim – let’s tell you what you can do to reverse the situation.
What Does Shadow Banned Mean? How to Reverse a Shadowban
So you’ve broken a few rules. OK, you’re human, you’ve made a mistake and you won’t do it again. Perhaps you used an automated Instagram growth tool from an unreputable company for how to get more story views on Instagram or to pay for cheap Instagram likes? Or you posted unsavoury content! Maybe you used broken hashtags? Or has your account been reported for inappropriate content? There’s another reason too – you’ve followed too many accounts far too quickly or you’ve posted too many likes. If you’ve followed 80 people in an hour for example, your account will be flagged, and Instagram will think you’re a bot! Here’s how to change your Shadowban.
- If you use a bot, stop it, and get rid of it.
- Don’t use banned hashtags (click here to find out what they are: https://techigem.com/banned-instagram-hashtags/
- Have a mini-break from Instagram, usually 48 hours is all you need to get your account back on track.
- Reread Instagram’s terms of use and community guideline.
- Stop posting inappropriate content!
Final Words on What Does Shadow Banned Mean
Now you know what Shadow Banned means you can avoid it. If you want to know how to gain Instagram followers, only post useful content that’s informative, fun, and engaging. Don’t follow hundreds of people in quick succession. Use quality hashtags and keep them down to around 6 to 9 per post and never post anything inappropriate. We hope your Shadowban lifts soon!