On Instagram you sometimes may encounter people who are rude, annoying, or abusive. In such cases, you may want to block them from seeing your posts or contacting you.
What Happens When You Block Someone on Instagram
Blocking someone on Instagram means that they can no longer see your profile, posts, stories, reels, or IGTV videos. They also can’t send you direct messages, comment on your posts, or mention you in their stories. Blocking someone on Instagram can help you protect your privacy and mental health from unwanted interactions.
However, blocking someone on Instagram is not always a permanent decision. Sometimes you may want to unblock someone who you blocked in the past. Maybe you had a misunderstanding with them, and you want to make up. Maybe they have changed their behavior, and you want to give them another chance. Maybe you are just curious about what they are up to now. Whatever the reason, unblocking someone on Instagram means that they can see your profile and posts again, and they can contact you through direct messages.
Blocking or unblocking someone on Instagram is a personal choice that depends on your situation and preferences. There is no right or wrong answer to whether you should block or unblock someone on Instagram. However, consider some reasons and benefits before making your decision.
Possible Reasons to Block Someone on Instagram
- You want to avoid harassment, bullying, spam, or scams from them.
- You want to prevent them from seeing your personal information or activities.
- You want to reduce stress, anxiety, anger, or sadness caused by them.
- You want to focus on positive and supportive relationships in your life.
Possible Reasons to Unblock Someone on Instagram
- You want to forgive them for their mistakes or apologize for yours.
- You want to rekindle a friendship or a relationship with them.
- You want to catch up with them or see what they are doing now.
- You want to show them that you have moved on or grown as a person.
Blocking or unblocking someone on Instagram can significantly impact your social media experience and your emotional well-being. Therefore, it is essential to think carefully before making your decision and respect yourself and others in the process.
How to Block Someone on Instagram
Blocking someone on Instagram means that they can no longer see your profile, posts, stories, reels, or IGTV videos. They also can’t send you direct messages, comment on your posts, or mention you in their stories.
- Tap the search symbol
- Search for the name / Instagram account which you want to block and tap on it
- Tap the three dots on the upper right
- Select “Block”
- Confirm by tapping “Block”
You can either just block the selected Instagram account or choose the first option “Block [name] and new accounts they may create”.
- On the blocked Instagram account, you will see a little info-box informing you about the fact
How to See Blocked Accounts and Unblock Someone on Instagram
Unblocking someone on Instagram means that they can see your profile and posts again, and they can contact you through direct messages.
- Open the profile page of the blocked Instagram account and tap “Unblock”
- To see a complete list of all blocked Instagram accounts, first tap your account profile picture
- Tap the menu button on the upper right
- Open “Settings”
- Select “Privacy”
- Tap on “Blocked Accounts”
- Tap “Unblock” for every Instagram account you want to
- Confirm with a tap on “Unblock” in the confirmation screen
How to Remove a Follower on Instagram
As an alternative to blocking, you can also remove Instagram followers manually so they won´t see your most recent posts on their home screen. Some Instagram followers may be spam accounts, bots, or inactive users who don’t engage with your content or add any value to your online presence. In fact, having too many of these low-quality followers can actually hurt your Instagram performance and reputation, so you might want to get rid of them.
- Tap your Instagram profile picture
- Tap on “Followers” at the top to open the list
- Tap on “Remove” for any Follower you want to get rid of
- Confirm with another tap on “Remove”
Related: How to Turn off Active Status on Instagram
The activity status on Instagram is a feature that lets other users you follow and anyone you message see when you were last active or currently active on Instagram. There are several reasons why you might want to turn off your activity status on Instagram. In our other guide we will explain you everything about Instagram active status and show you how to turn it off, if you want to.
Related: How to Log out of Instagram on Any Device / from All Devices at Once
Staying logged in on Instagram can have both positive and negative effects depending on how you use the app. If someone accesses your Instagram account without your permission, they might post anything from your account, access your chats and private details, and even change your password or settings. You can prevent this from happening by logging out of Instagram.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Blocking Someone on Instagram
Can a blocked person still see my comments on public accounts or mutual friends’ posts?
If your account is public, a blocked person could indirectly encounter your comments or likes on mutual friends’ posts or public accounts. They won’t be able to access your profile directly, but public interactions remain visible. To ensure complete privacy from a blocked person, consider making your account private, which restricts non-followers from viewing your activities.
Will Instagram notify someone when I block or unblock them?
Instagram maintains privacy around blocking actions; it does not send notifications for blocking or unblocking. However, the blocked person might deduce they’ve been blocked if they notice they can no longer search for your profile, see your posts, or send you messages. It’s a discreet process to maintain user privacy and avoid potential conflicts.
If I unblock someone, will they automatically refollow me?
Unblocking someone on Instagram does not restore their follower status. They would not automatically follow you again; they must manually search for your profile and choose to follow you. This action requires consent from both parties, ensuring control over your followers list and privacy.
Can I block someone from mentioning me in their posts or stories?
When you block someone, they are prevented from mentioning or tagging you in future posts or stories. However, this doesn’t retroactively remove existing mentions or tags. For existing mentions, you may need to manually remove tags from photos or ask the poster to edit the caption.
How do I block someone who doesn’t have an Instagram account but views my public profile from the web?
Blocking is specific to Instagram accounts, so you cannot block individuals who view your profile without an account. To protect your privacy from anonymous web viewers, consider setting your profile to private, which restricts access to your content to approved followers only, effectively shielding your content from unregistered users.
Is there a way to temporarily block someone on Instagram?
Instagram doesn’t offer a temporary block feature. If you wish to temporarily restrict someone’s access to your profile, you’ll need to block and then manually unblock them at your discretion. Remember that re-establishing connections (like following each other) will need to be done manually after unblocking.
Can a blocked person see my profile through a mutual friend’s account?
A blocked person could potentially view your profile indirectly through a mutual friend’s account if they physically share their screen or device. However, they cannot access your profile or content directly from their own account. Your content’s visibility to others is also influenced by your privacy settings.
What happens to group messages when I block someone on Instagram?
Blocking someone on Instagram does not remove you or them from any group messages you both are part of. Both of you will still be able to see each other’s messages within the group. If you wish to not see messages from a blocked person in a group, you may need to leave the group or start a new conversation without the blocked individual.
How can I know if someone blocked me on Instagram?
Indications of being blocked include being unable to find the person’s profile through search, not seeing their posts, or receiving a message that the user is not available when attempting to view their profile. Instagram does not notify users of being blocked to maintain privacy, so these indirect signs are the only indicators.
Does blocking someone on Instagram block them on other linked apps like Facebook?
Blocking on Instagram is specific to the platform and does not extend to Facebook or other linked apps, even if your accounts are connected. If you wish to block someone across different platforms, you need to do so individually on each app to ensure your privacy across your digital presence.
Can I hide my Instagram stories from a specific person without blocking them?
You can hide your Instagram stories from specific users without blocking them by going to your story settings and selecting “Hide Story From“. This allows you to maintain your follower relationship while controlling who sees your daily updates, providing a flexible privacy tool.
If I block someone, will it delete the messages they sent me?
Blocking someone does not automatically delete the direct message history between you and the blocked person. The conversation remains in your inbox, and you can choose to keep it or delete it. If you want to remove the conversation, you’ll need to delete it manually from your inbox.
Can someone I blocked still see the messages I sent them before I blocked them?
Yes, someone you’ve blocked will retain the message history and can still view the messages you sent prior to blocking. Blocking restricts future interactions but does not erase the history of direct messages exchanged before the block was initiated.
What should I do if blocking someone on Instagram isn’t enough to stop harassment?
If blocking is insufficient to stop harassment, consider reporting the abusive behavior to Instagram through the app’s reporting feature. Document the harassment by taking screenshots and provide detailed information when reporting. For severe cases, seeking support from local authorities or legal advice might be appropriate. Instagram offers various resources and tools to address harassment and ensure user safety.
How can I report a profile on Instagram that I’ve already blocked?
To report a blocked profile, you may need to unblock them temporarily to access the report option on their profile. After reporting, you can block them again. Instagram takes user reports seriously and reviews reported content to ensure community guidelines are upheld, maintaining a safe environment for all users.
Last Updated on November 7, 2024 10:30 pm CET