In the world of social media, Instagram stands out as a powerful platform for connecting with audiences. However, the emergence of the Instagram shadowban has added a layer of complexity for users and automated tools like ReachOwl.
In this blog, we will tell you the intricacies of Instagram Shadowban, what it is, why it happens, and most importantly, how it can impact your ReachOwl campaigns.
What is Instagram shadowban?
When you want to increase your Instagram following, you rely on hashtags and Explore pages to reach more people. So it can feel all around discouraged when it suddenly seems like your matter isn’t showing up anywhere.
If you notice a sudden decrease in likes and comments, or your posts aren’t showing up for certain hashtags or on the explore page, you might be shadowbanned.
Why is Shadowban Instagram happening?
Shadowbanning is Instagram’s way of filtering out accounts that don’t agree with their terms, such as those that buy followers or use hundreds of hashtags that aren’t relevant to their content that some people increase to grow their Instagram following In such cases, Instagram hides content from these accounts to promote genuine and valuable content to users.
While Instagram doesn’t openly acknowledge shadowbanning, they addressed the issue of users’ content not appearing for certain hashtags on their Facebook business page in February 2019. While some interpret this as an indirect acknowledgment of shadowbanning, it does confirm the existence of difficulties with hashtags.
It’s important to recognize that Instagram changes updates its calculation, so any changes you’ve noticed in your engagement rate could be due to these modifications.
However, shadowbanning could be a serious strategy designed to hide users’ content from the broader Instagram audience. If you’re experiencing shadowbanning, it’s important to take the necessary steps to ensure your content is visible.
Let’s explore how to determine if you’re shadowbanned and tips for avoiding it.
Just explore your profile on the application, then, at that point, Menu > Settings > Record > Record status. With this element, you can check what is affecting your account (regardless) and get ideas for how to restore it.
If you don’t have a business account, there’s a simple test to figure out if your account is shadowbanned.
If some of your employees can see your post, you might simply be dealing with a decrease in engagement. If that’s the case, there are various ways to fix this.
Check out Instagram Marketing: The ultimate guide for strategic advice on improving your reach and engagement.
If the above method for checking shadowbanning isn’t workable, especially for sole proprietors, there are alternative methods to identify if you’ve been shadowbanned, as outlined below.
Instagram Shadowban Test
There’s no certain test to confirm if you’ve been shadowbanned on Instagram. Despite claims from some tools, their responsibility is questionable. Instead, consider trying the steps below.
Check your hashtag pages
If you check the pages of hashtags you frequently use and notice a message indicating that posts have been hidden, it’s possible you’ve been shadowbanned for using those hashtags.
Explore the message below for the hashtag “mustfollow.” If users have recently posted content using this hashtag that breaks Instagram’s community guidelines, it’s possible that Instagram may be suppressing your content with this hashtag, even if your content doesn’t break any rules.
Take a look at Instagram Experiences
If you check Instagram Insights and see a sudden and consistent decrease in engagement, you may be shadowbanned. The percentage of accounts reached that were not following you is an important metric to look at.
Explore the difference in “reach” between the two posts below. This blogger associate experienced a decrease from reaching over 70K accounts, with 32% not following them, to reaching just over 40K, with only 4% not already following them. This decrease raised uncertainty of a shadowban on their account.
If you suppose you’ve been shadowbanned, don’t worry — we have a solution for you.
For what reason am I shadowbanned?
Your account might be shadowbanned for various reasons. Let’s explore some actions that could have led to the shadowban and discuss steps to prevent it from happening again.
1. Using bots or other automated tools for “Instagram growth” can lead to a shadowban
Instagram emphasizes the importance of actual engagement and connection with the right audience. If you resort to spamming with bots or take shortcuts without actual effort, you risk activating a shadowban. Putting in the effort yourself is important for actual growth on the platform.
2. Using broken hashtags could contribute to issues with your Instagram account
If a widely used hashtag becomes covered with inappropriate content, Instagram might take action by either removing the hashtag or limiting its use. Using a banned hashtag can affect the visibility of your other hashtags and may lead to restrictions on your account.
3. If your account is frequently reported by other users
When users repeatedly report an account, Instagram may interpret this as the account posting inappropriate content or breaking their terms of service. As a result, the account might be disabled, or Instagram could implement a shadowban. It underscores the importance of adhering to community guidelines to maintain a positive account status.
4. You’ve been posting, remarking, connecting with, or following individuals excessively fast
Instagram sets restrictions on how often you can follow, unfollow, like, comment, or post in an hour or a day. This is to stop automated bots from excessively interacting on your behalf, ensuring that actual users are behind the actions.
Doing activities like rapidly following, unfollowing, liking, and commenting might help you gain followers quickly, but they won’t help you connect with the right people on Instagram. These actions could also lead to a shadowban, which limits your reach to new audiences significantly.
The most effective method to Fix an Instagram Shadowban
To recover your account, you’ll need to undo the damage. Here’s how to do it:
1. Stop using a bot or another automated service right away and delete it
To ensure that the records aren’t linked to you, go to your desktop Instagram, click “Edit Profile,” and then select “Apps and Websites.” If you find any of your bot accounts in the active tab, click “Remove” to completely eliminate them from your account.
Remember, it’s more valuable to have 100 followers who actually love your content and purchase your products than having 1,000 followers who never buy from you or engage with your content. Quality matters more than quantity.
2. Use hashtags that have been removed from use
Check out Kicksta’s list of banned hashtags for 2023 and remove any inappropriate ones from your content. They’ve provided some examples on the list.
Moving forward, be specific and careful when choosing hashtags. If in doubt, check the hashtag’s page on Instagram. If it says something like “Recent posts from #summer2023 are currently hidden,” it means the hashtag is not in use or restricted.
3. When needed, provide a content warning
For sensitive topics, it’s best to be proactive and warn viewers about content that might be disturbing to them. Although you can’t change Instagram’s new Sensitive Content feature for your own posts, there is a workaround.
To achieve this, create a slideshow post with a preview image to give users the option to proceed or not. Use the Story editing feature to begin. Go to your profile in the app, select “New Post,” then choose “Story,” and finally, create your post.
Choose the image or background you want for the main slide and type out your warning message.
Click on the spot and save the picture. Presently it’s prepared for use around your delicate substance. Essentially make this the primary slide in your new post.
4. Requires a two-sunrise
Some individuals claim that taking a complete 48-hour break from using their Instagram accounts can reset the system and potentially raise restrictions. While this might be an informal suggestion, it’s worth considering if you’re facing issues. However, keep in mind that it’s not guaranteed to work, and taking a short break from online activity can have its benefits regardless.
6. Follow the guidelines established by Instagram
Read and follow Instagram’s Terms of Service, Community Guidelines, and Content Guidelines. Some key points from these documents include:
1) Only share content that you have created or have permission to share.
2) Avoid posting content that is fake or misleading.
3) Share content that is appropriate for a wide audience so that anyone can view it.
How will Instagram shadowban affect Reachowl?
The Instagram shadowban has become an important concern for users, and its impact can extend to automation tools like ReachOwl. Understanding how the Instagram shadowban affects ReachOwl campaigns is essential to ensuring the success of your outreach strategies.
The monitor issue is that our profiles are shadowbanned by Instagram, and if your profile is shadowbanned, then it will not work, but it can be exchanged on your campaign.
The Shadowban Challenge
The Instagram Shadowban happens when Instagram limits the visibility of a user’s content, making it less discoverable to a broader audience. This can happen due to activities that break Instagram’s policies, such as using too many hashtags, engaging in automated interactions, or other behaviors considered spams.
Implications for ReachOwl
If your Instagram profile is shadowbanned, it can have a notable impact on the effectiveness of your ReachOwl campaigns, especially those involving monitoring hashtags or engaging with Instagram posts. The restrictions imposed by the Shadowban may limit the visibility of your outreach efforts, potentially reducing the reach and effectiveness of your campaigns.
Addressing Shadowban Concerns
To reduce the risks of Instagram Shadowban while using ReachOwl, consider taking the following measures:
1. Adhere to Instagram Guidelines:
Make sure that your Instagram activities, whether manual or automated, comply with Instagram’s community guidelines. Avoid behaviors that could activate a shadowban, like excessive use of automation tools or breaking posting rules.
2. Monitor Your Profile’s Health:
Regularly check the health of your Instagram profile to identify any signs of a shadowban. Keep an eye on changes in engagement, reach, and visibility. If you suspect a shadowban, take steps to address the underlying issues promptly.
3. Diversify Your Campaign Strategies:
Instead of solely relying on monitoring hashtags, diversify your ReachOwl campaigns. Explore other features and strategies that place with Instagram’s guidelines, such as friend request campaigns or direct messaging. This helps reduce dependence on hashtags and minimizes the risk of activating a shadowban.
To wrap up, dealing with Instagram’s shadowban is important for a successful ReachOwl campaign. We’ve discussed what shadowban is, why it happens, and how it affects ReachOwl efforts.
The key is to follow Instagram’s rules, regularly check your profile for issues, and diversify your campaign strategies beyond just using hashtags.
By staying real, producing quality content, and being attentive for signs of a shadowban, you can ensure that your ReachOwl campaign effectively reaches and engages your audience, overcoming challenges associated with the shadowban.