Instagram lets users report accounts for different reasons. You can report fake profiles spamming your posts, inappropriate or hateful content, or stolen images. Instagram wants to keep its over 1 billion users safe and comfortable. But with so many users, it’s hard to watch everything. If you see something that breaks the rules or makes you uncomfortable, report it. You may not know what happens after you report an account. The result of reporting an account on Instagram is often unclear.
Reasons To Report An Instagram Account
There are several valid reasons to report an Instagram account:
- Inappropriate Content: If the account is posting content that is sexually explicit, violent, graphic, or otherwise inappropriate, it should be reported.
- Hate Speech or Harassment: Accounts that promote hate speech, harassment, bullying, discrimination, or threats against individuals or groups should be reported.
- Impersonation: If someone is pretending to be you or someone else without permission, it’s important to report the account for impersonation.
- Spam or Scams: Accounts that engage in spamming, phishing, or promoting fraudulent schemes should be reported to protect other users from being misled or scammed.
- Copyright Infringement: If an account is using your intellectual property (such as your photos or artwork) without permission, you can report it for copyright infringement.
- Child Exploitation: Any account that shares or promotes sexually explicit content involving minors should be reported immediately for child exploitation.
- Violent or Dangerous Content: Accounts that promote or glorify violence, self-harm, drug abuse, or other dangerous behaviors should be reported to prevent harm to others.
- Fake Accounts: Report accounts that are pretending to be someone they’re not, or those that are using fake information or engaging in deceptive practices.
- Sensitive Content: Accounts that post sensitive or triggering content without appropriate warnings should be reported, especially if it may harm vulnerable individuals.
- Other Violations: Any other violations of Instagram’s Community Guidelines or Terms of Service should also be reported to maintain the integrity and safety of the platform.
How To Report On Instagram
Reporting someone on Instagram is simple. You can report different things like an account, a post, a comment, a message, or a story. When reporting an account on the app, you have limited space to explain why.
Some users have had more success emailing Instagram at [email protected]. But, some users struggle to reach Instagram support.
Report Instagram Account
To report an Instagram account, here’s what you need to do:
- Go to the profile of the account you want to report.
- Tap the three dots located in the top right corner of the profile.
- Select “Report” from the options that appear.
- Choose either “It’s spam” or “It’s inappropriate” based on the nature of the content.
- Follow the prompts to complete your report.
Following these steps will help you report an Instagram account efficiently and effectively.
Report a Post on Instagram
To report a single post on Instagram, here’s what you need to do:
- Locate the post you want to report and tap on the three dots located at the top right corner of the post.
- Select “Report” from the options that appear.
- Choose either “It’s spam” or “It’s inappropriate” based on the nature of the content.
- Follow the prompts provided to complete your report.
Report a Comment on Instagram
If you encounter a comment on Instagram that makes you feel uncomfortable, is spam, or is simply inappropriate, you can report it using these straightforward steps:
- Navigate to the post containing the comment you want to report and tap on “View All Comments”.
- Swipe left on the comment that you wish to report.
- Tap on the exclamation point icon that appears to report the comment.
- When prompted to provide a reason for reporting, select either “Spam or Scam” or “Abusive Comment”.
- Follow the prompts to complete your report.
Report a Direct Message on Instagram
If you’re receiving unwanted direct messages on Instagram, you have the option to report the entire account or block the sender. Alternatively, you can report individual messages to provide Instagram with specific details about the inappropriate content. Here’s how to report a direct message:
- Open the message that you wish to report.
- Press and hold the message until a menu appears.
- Select “Report” from the options provided.
- Follow the prompts to complete your report.
Report an Instagram Story
Instagram stories have gained immense popularity on the platform, but they can also be reported if necessary. If you need to report an Instagram story, here’s what you should do:
- While viewing the story, locate the three dots in the response field at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap on “Report” from the options provided.
- Select either “It’s spam” or “It’s inappropriate” based on the nature of the content.
- Follow the prompts that appear to complete your report.
What Happens When You Report Someone On Instagram
Instagram reviews reports, but the speed of their response can vary. It’s not always clear how quickly they’ll take action because many reports are made on accounts not breaking Instagram’s rules. In my experience, I accidentally reported an innocent account while writing this blog post. Instagram responded to my report within just 10 minutes. They sent a message saying, “Thank you for reporting this account. We’ll investigate the issue and take appropriate action if necessary.”
Not everyone who reports misuse on Instagram gets a response. Some users noticed reported accounts disappearing later. However, Instagram doesn’t always explain if they deleted the account or found inappropriate activity.
If you reported a post or comment, Instagram might delete it if your claim was valid. Deleting an entire account is a more serious action and needs more time and evidence.
Sometimes, Instagram may suspend an account from posting after a report. Some users think a report can result in a shadowban, but this is debated.
Reporting on Instagram can be frustrating and often doesn’t give immediate results. If Instagram doesn’t respond to your report, try reporting again or ask friends to report the same account or post to get Instagram’s attention.
When You Report Someone on Instagram is It Anonymous?
Reporting on Instagram is anonymous. When you report someone, they don’t get a notification. It’s unclear if they’re told about the report. One exception: If you report copyright infringement, Instagram might tell the person your name and email. This is for legal reasons, in case they dispute ownership of the content.
How To Un-Report On Instagram
Once you send a report on Instagram, you can’t undo it. Don’t worry if the report was a mistake or sent in the heat of the moment. Instagram may not take action on reports that are not valid, so the reported account may not be affected.
Reporting may lead to your account blocking the reported account. If you want to unblock someone on Instagram, you can learn how to do so here.
