How to avoid an Instagram ban

Have you been the victim of an Instagram ban?

You can be blocked from activity on Instagram for a number of reasons – automating too much content, sharing copyrighted, sexual or violent content, user complaints, or logging in from too many IP addresses. But the most common reason for a ban is surpassing Instagram’s action limits – and this is the ban that many compers are being hit with!

Instagram activity blocks can last from minutes to months – they’re annoying, but these automated systems are the best way to stop spam and abuse and to keep the platform safe for its millions of users. Instagram is administering blocks on accounts engaging in dubious activity – and unfortunately, the activity of a comper is definitely suspicious! Following, liking and commenting in quick succession, sharing multiple posts to a story in a few minutes, posting similar comments on different profiles… it’s no surprise that compers are constantly seeing the ‘try again later’ warning!

It’s usually doing too much of a particular action that will trigger the block, and that could be anything that doesn’t seem like natural behaviour. Following/unfollowing too many accounts at once, tagging too many people in comments, liking too many posts one after the other, etc. You will usually be blocked from doing that action but might also get additional blocks. It could be that you’re blocked from liking and commenting on posts, but can still upload content and add to your story. 

Instagram Action Limits

An Instagram ban is usually given because you’ve exceeded your action limits. The exact number of actions allowed is unknown, but it’s suggested that the date of registration, average activity level, engagement rate and your follower number has an effect on the limits. These limits will also change if you’ve already been hit with a ban!

Here’s a list of average Instagram action limits as suggested by Social Pros:

• 7-13 follows per hour / 100-150 follows per day
• 300-400 likes per day
• 12-15 comments per hour
• 10 DMs per hour

What to do if you get an Instagram ban

If it’s an option, tap Report Problem or Tell Us on the pop up warning. Or simply shake yor phone when the ban notice pops up. Or you can also go to your profile, tap the three line menu at the top and go to Settings amd Privacy > Help > Report a Problem to let Instagram know. Tell them you’ve been blocked but don’t know why, as you’re not a spammer.

You could also try these methods to see if you can lift the ban:

• Reinstall the Instagram app
• Log in using a different device
• Switching your device from WiFi to mobile data

If you’re still able to add content to your profile, try sharing an original photo or two to your grid and story, just to prove you’re not a bot.

How to avoid an Instagram ban

If you’ve had a block already, Instagram is watching you! You will need to learn to behave more naturally, and slow down. Don’t treat Instagram solely as a giveaway platform – learn to appreciate the content, and start uploading more photos and videos of your own.

Here’s some tips on avoiding a repeat ban:

• Slow down – don’t do a super quick like and tag, and then immediately move on to the next giveaway. Be extra careful with group giveaways where you need to like multiple pages!
• Restrict yourself to entering just a few giveaways each hour – if this seems OK for a few days, try slowly increasing your numbers and making a note of your daily figures.
• Only spend a few minutes on Instagram at a time – switch to Twitter or Facebook for a while in between each Insta session
• If you’re commenting on a giveaway with multiple friend tags, add different text to each one – and don’t leave too many comments!
• Share your own original photo and video content to your grid or story – use hashtags, which will help you gain new followers
• Save giveaways to enter later, rather than entering straight away. A lot of compers like to create dated collections, then they save the posts and enter on the closing date
• Interact with friends’ content regularly and ask them to like and comment on your posts too
• Watch and interact with stories 
• Don’t follow or unfollow more than 50 accounts in a day
• When your ban is lifted, post original content on your feed or story first, before starting on your giveaway entries again!
• Ditch any keyboard shortcuts you use for Instagram, and type your comments and tags manually
• Activate two-factor authentication for your account (in Settings > Security)

Have you experienced an Instagram ban? How long did it last? Do you have any tips on avoiding them? Let me know in the comments.