Restricting on Instagram: What Does It Mean?

You don’t have to be a social butterfly to enjoy social media. You can be a very private person—a classic introvert—and still feel safe having a social media presence. All you need is the proper privacy configuration. Instagram, private and public accounts alike (including business accounts) have several options. You might have to protect yourself from abuse, bullying, spam, inappropriate comments, and offensive language. 

Many people use this feature on Instagram. So what does restrict mean on Instagram, and when should you use it? Read on for all of our tips and tricks on how to restrict on Instagram and what it means.

What Does Restricting on Instagram Do?

Restricting on Instagram allows you to control which comments appear on your posts. When you limit an account’s access, the user can still see, like, and comment on your posts. 

However, their comments will only be visible to them. You won’t receive notifications about their comments, as well. If you notice a decrease in interactions, you may be dealing with a restricted account on Instagram. Other steps you can take with regard to a person’s comments on your posts include:

• Seeing their comment by tapping “See comment.”
• Approving their comment so it will be visible to others
• Ignoring or deleting their comment

This is a highly utilized feature to add to your Instagram toolbox for generating growth. Try it alongside hashtags on Instagram to keep your posts streamlined and organized.

What Does Restrict Mean on Instagram? 

If you are wondering, “What does restrict mean on Instagram?” The answer is simple. Instagram introduced the feature to restrict followers’ interactions with your account to combat cyberbullying and unwanted interactions.

Essentially, it’s a way to control what appears on your feed without blocking someone on Instagram. In turn, it allows you to keep your follower count up as opposed to blocking. This is important if you are an Instagram entrepreneur building your brand and follower count. Now that we’ve covered the basics of restricting on Instagram let’s talk about the difference between restricting and blocking.

Instagram Restricted Account: What Happens When You Restrict Someone on Instagram?

You’ve hit the button, so what happens when you restrict someone on Instagram? As mentioned, the Instagram-restricted account can still interact with your Instagram account and posts. However, the person you’ve restricted won’t see when you’re online. They can send you messages, but your Message Requests Inbox will store them. Any chat history with the person will relocate to your message requests. They won’t know if you read their message/s. If you are worried about people knowing you are using this feature, don’t be. They won’t realize that you have restricted them on Instagram.

Can a Restricted Instagram Account Still See Your Stories? 

Yes, restricting someone on Instagram does not hide your stories from them. Users with limited access to your content can still view your stories. This limitation mainly impacts their ability to comment directly on your posts. It also changes how you receive their messages. 

This feature aims to control interaction without blocking visibility. Your stories remain visible unless you decide to block the user completely. If you’re wondering, “Does restricting on Instagram hide stories?” the answer is no, it does not.

You may also be wondering, “Does restricting on Instagram hide posts from the user?” No, it does not. When you restrict someone, they can still see all your posts and profile updates. This feature limits their interaction with your posts and controls the visibility of their comments to others, requiring your approval first.

Can I Tell if I Am Restricted on Instagram?  

Restricting on Instagram provides you with control over who you interact with. If you don’t want to see comments or messages, this feature is your friend. However, this action won’t notify the follower. Only you know you have restricted other users. This also means is someone restricts you on their Instagram account, you won’t know.

If you suspect you are restricted on Instagram, check by commenting on a user’s post. If your comment is not published immediately, you are likely restricted. To check, log in from a secondary or friend’s account to see if you can see your comment. Another sign? You won’t be able to see whether the user is online or not. Keep in mind these suggestions aren’t foolproof. Instagram settings allow the user to limit comments and disable their activity status.

How Do I Restrict on Instagram?

Now that you know the functionality of restricting on Instagram, let’s discuss how to use this setting. There are multiple ways to limit someone’s access to Instagram to make it simple. Here’s how to use this function on your Instagram account.

Restrict on Instagram Through Messages

One of the easiest ways to limit someone on Instagram is through messages. Open your direct messages and tap the person’s name, then tap the three dots on the top right. Select “Restrict” and then tap “Restrict account” to confirm. You can even use this feature in a group chat. If you’re in a group chat with the person you’ve restricted on Instagram, you’ll see a notification. Instagram will let you know that you’ll see a restricted account’s message/s. After you limit someone on Instagram, their messages will appear as message requests.

Restrict on Instagram Through the Comments Section 

Is there spam or unwanted comments on your Instagram post? If it’s a repeat offender, go to your post and tap “View all comments.” Find the comment of the person you want to restrict on Instagram. Hold your finger on the comment. Tap the exclamation point icon, then tap “Restrict [username].” After you hit the button, be sure to reload your comments. This user’s comment should no longer be visible.

Restrict on Instagram Through Your Settings

If you prefer to make this change through your settings, head to your profile by tapping the profile icon. Then, tap the three-bar menu icon, also known as the hamburger menu, on the top right. Tap “Settings,” then “Privacy.” Find “Restricted accounts” below “Connections,” then tap “Continue.” Find the account you want to limit and tap “Restrict” next to their name. 

Restrict Someone Through Their Profile

Another simple way to restrict on Instagram is to search for the user by their username. Tap on their name to go to their profile. Alternatively, if the account you want to limit pops up on your feed or Instagram stories, tap their username. Tap the three dots on the top right. Then tap “Restrict,” followed by “Restrict account” to confirm. Now, you won’t be able to see this user’s comments, feeds, or messages.

Instagram also allows you to restrict multiple accounts at the same time. To do this, go to your post and tap “View all comments.” For an iPhone on the Instagram app, tap the three dots on the top right, then tap “Manage accounts.”  Android Instagram app users don’t have this step. For both the iPhone and Android apps, just select all the comments you want to manage. Then, tap the “Restrict” button to limit multiple accounts at the same time.  

What Is the Difference Between Restricting on Instagram and Blocking?

The main difference between restricting on Instagram and blocking is the accessibility to your profile. As we mentioned, a restricted person can still interact with your feed and profile. You won’t see the comments or direct messages unless you want to. The Block feature, on the other hand, completely removes a person’s ability to find you on Instagram. Blocked Instagram accounts won’t be able to view your profile and posts or interact with you in any way. 

As your follower count grows, you may decide to block or limit followers for various reasons, including unwanted interactions. Don’t worry; Instagram allows you to block or restrict as many accounts as you like.

If you’ve accidentally blocked or restricted a user, unblocking or removing restrictions is straightforward. From your main feed, click on your profile icon to access your Instagram profile. Then, click on the three-bar menu at the top of the screen. Once the menu appears, click on “Settings” then “Privacy.” 

To understand the difference between “Instagram block vs restrict,” remember that restricted users have limited interactions with your account. To view your list of restricted accounts, tap on the “Restricted accounts” tab.

Then, click on the “Unrestrict” tab next to the account to which you want to give full access to your profile. For blocked users, use the “Blocked accounts” tab instead of “Restricted accounts.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a restricted Instagram see stories?

Yes, a restricted Instagram account can still see your stories. When you restrict someone, it limits certain interactions, like commenting on your posts, but it doesn’t block them from viewing your content. So if you’re wondering, “Can a restricted Instagram see stories?” the answer is yes—they can still view your stories even when restricted. Restricting an account primarily manages how they interact with you, not what they can see.

Final Thoughts: Use the Restrict Feature for Enhanced Safety and Privacy

To sum it up, “restrict” on Instagram means enhanced safety and privacy for your account. You achieve this by better controlling which comments from someone on Instagram appear on your posts. Additionally, you’ll have control of who can see your activity status and which messages go directly to your main inbox. Any interactions with restricted users will become a message request instead.

Restricting and blocking users on Instagram are a few options the platform offers to manage how people interact with you. You can temporarily limit unwanted comments, turn off comments, use filters, or report comments for abuse or spam.

For business pages, growing your Instagram account always comes with the risk of exposure to spam, harassment, abuse, and even bots. You increase your risk exponentially when you use third-party apps to help you increase your followers. If you need help with Instagram growth, find a reliable partner like Path Social, who understands the value of organic growth.

Take advantage of Path Social’s proprietary AI targeting technology and in-house team of social media experts. Start growing and gaining Instagram followers today.