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Shadowban on Instagram: Causes, Fixes & How to Avoid Getting Penalized

Have you ever heard of shadowban on Instagram? Whether or not you have heard about it, you must have seen numerous posts about decreasing reach and visibility. And the content does not show up on the Explore page! Now, what is the Explore page? When you build your presence on Instagram, you rely on the explore and hashtag pages to increase your reach and audience. The explore page is where your content appears so your account is easily discoverable, and you can reach out to more people. But when your content doesn’t seem to show up, it is disheartening. Have you spotted a drop in your Instagram engagement? Your activities do not appear, and your account does not exist! This is Instagram Shadowban.

Do you want to grow your Instagram presence and learn about the shadowban concept in detail? The blog covers everything you need to know about it, including what is Shadowban on Instagram, its causes, how to fix it, and how to avoid getting penalised. So, without further ado, let’s dive in!

What is Shadowban on Instagram?

A shadowban is a situation when Instagram limits the visibility of your content without informing you of the restricted visibility. When you are shadowbanned, your content won’t appear on the Explore page or hashtag searches. Moreover, the platform will not recommend your posts in the feed section. People can only see your content if they follow you.

So, when does a shadowban on Instagram happen? It usually occurs when you fail to comply with the community guidelines of the social media platform. This could imply that the platform finds your posts misleading or inappropriate. If you use irrelevant hashtags or publish content that violates Instagram’s guidelines, you may notice a decrease in your reach because the algorithm does not push your content.

Causes of Shadowban on Instagram

Since you do not receive any notification from Instagram regarding why you are shadowbanned, you need to figure out whether the algorithm promotes your content. Discussed below are the reasons for shadowban on Instagram yourself:

Violating Community Guidelines

Instagram has certain Community Guidelines, which are rules and regulations that make the platform a safe and positive place. If the algorithm finds that you are not following the rules, the social media platform can shadowban you, remove your content, and lock your profile. Any content not in sync with Instagram’s policies includes misinformative and violent posts. Users or your audience could also report your content if they find the post inappropriate and misleading. Reports are alerts for the social media platform regarding community guideline violations.

Copyright Infringements

On social media platforms like Instagram, you can only publish others’ content with their permission. If you post someone else’s content without asking them, that’s called copyright infringement. Copyright is a legal right that protects real, authentic work. If you create your unique content, it is automatically copyrighted. The community guidelines of Instagram specify that you can share content that does not compromise others’ intellectual rights.

Fake Engagement

Real interaction and originality are valuable for Instagram. Faking interaction or purchasing followers violates rules and regulations and results in a shadowban. Examples of fake engagement are as follows:
    • Engagement Pods: Some individuals might create engagement pods where users inappropriately comment, share, and like each other’s posts to boost engagement. Although supporting friends is highly appreciable and a great idea to build a community, the platform prefers proper interaction.
    • Engagement Bots: Some individuals purchase engagement from bots, which can be followers or likes. This can lead to shadowban on Instagram.

Spam Activities

Spam activity on Instagram includes overdoing something or finding ways to trick the algorithm. Doing one or all the activities mentioned below is considered spammy:

    • Following and unfollowing many profiles at the same time
    • Liking random posts
    • Posting repeatedly
    • Using one hashtag for all posts

These actions may increase engagement but can also be among the reasons for shadowban on Instagram. The platform wants your audience and others to discover content naturally and organically.

Broken Hashtags

Broken hashtags are one of the main reasons for shadowban on Instagram. Sometimes, famous hashtags are flooded with improper content, generally from bots and fake accounts. When such incidents happen, the platform deletes the hashtag and restricts its use. If you use such hashtags, the algorithm will prevent your other relevant hashtags from ranking and can also lead to a blocked account.

shadowban - violating the community guideliness

Shadowban on Instagram Fixes

Are you shadowbanned on social media? Discussed below is how to remove shadowban on Instagram:

    • If you use automated services or bots to increase engagement, stop it immediately.
    • Refrain from using banned hashtags.
    • Another great way of how to fix shadowban on Instagram is to report the problem to the platform. This is especially helpful if you haven’t violated rules and reporting proves you are not a bot.
    • Review the hashtags to know which is appropriate and which can be ditched.
    • Use content warnings even if you post that content for valid reasons.
    • Refrain from over-posting on social media and take a break, as excessive posting can make the algorithm think you are a robot and result in a shadowban.

How to Avoid Getting Penalized Due to Shadowban on Instagram?

By now, you know what an Instagram shadowban is and how you can find out if you are really shadowbanned. Now it’s time to understand how to avoid shadowban on Instagram. The best way to avoid getting shadowbanned is to create original content. Your post should be valuable and follow the community guidelines. You should keep up with the rules and regulations when boosting engagement and growing your audience. Although this may take a long time to grow your engagement, remember the saying: Slow and steady wins the race. Going slowly with social media growth protects you from shadowbanning, and you won’t be penalised.

Shadowban on Instagram: How to Check if You Are Shadowbanned?

There are three ways to know if the popular social media platform has shadowbanned you, which are as follows:

Search for Hashtags

The first step for the Instagram shadowban check is to upload content with unbanned hashtags. Ask someone who doesn’t follow you to search for the hashtag. If your content does not appear in their search, you are shadowbanned.

Look at the Analytics

Take a close look at the changes in the engagement metric. If there is a sudden decrease in your engagement, you are likely shadowbanned.

Check the Status with a Professional Account

If you have a professional profile, you can use it for the Instagram shadowban check. Use account status to see if the social media platform recommends your posts. You can see if your post has broken any rules and take steps to correct it.

Shadowban on Instagram: How to Check if You Are Shadowbanned?

Conclusion

Shadowban on Instagram can be frustrating, restricting visibility and engagement without prior notification. These often arise due to too much hashtag use, inappropriate behaviour, or violating community guidelines. If you think you are shadowbanned, take a break, review your content, and interact with your audience and followers genuinely to fix it. The best way to tackle Instagram shadowbans is prevention: keep yourself up-to-date with the rules and regulations and engage authentically. A healthy organic approach will safeguard your account from shadowbans and help you build better credibility. By following the rules, regulations, and guidelines, you can enjoy constant growth and visibility.

Looking for the best digital marketing company in Bangalore to grow your Instagram presence without getting penalised? Connect with Innovkraft Inc. today and let’s navigate the intricacies of social media with the right approach and strategies!

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