What happens when you restrict someone on Instagram?

Social media can give us great insight into other people’s lives. While it is a useful tool for keeping up with friends, accessing it can easily become a problem. Some people abuse the anonymity of the online environment to harass others.

If you’ve been dealing with this type of harassment on Instagram and are looking for a way to stop it, the “restrict” feature might help you. Here’s what you need to know about this tool and what happens when you restrict someone on Instagram.

What is constraint function?

Instagram launched the “restrict” feature in 2019 to combat cyberbullying and cultivate a more positive community. Cyberbullying has been a frequent problem on the platform. Using the restriction function is only one of the tools can be used against harassers or unwanted interactions.

Basically, you can use this feature to subtly limit someone’s access to your account. This tool is designed to render the harasser’s efforts to cause embarrassment fruitless. At the same time, you can avoid a direct confrontation that could further aggravate the problem.

For example, if someone has been relentlessly leaving rude comments on each of your posts, restricting that user can nip the problem in the bud. Restricting will also keep your direct messaging space safe from unwanted calls and messages. However, you will still be able to interact with the user you have restricted whenever you want.

Thanks to its discreet nature, a restraint can also be used for purposes other than harassment management. You can use it to deal with over-eager followers or family members who shower you with embarrassing comments.

What happens when you restrict someone on Instagram?

Here are the changes you can expect when you tap the “restrict” button on someone’s profile:

• Your messages will be moved to your message requests.

Whether they are followed or not, restricting a user will redirect their messages to your “message requests” folder. This also includes their responses to your stories. You can find your requests in the top right corner of your direct messages folder.

For message requests, you won’t receive notifications about any new messages the person may send you. However, you will still be able to view your messages if you wish. Even if you see them, the sender will not be notified. Read receipts will be hidden, as they normally are in message requests, until you accept them.

If you want to reply to the restricted person, you must remove the restriction.

• Your activity status is hidden from them.

Typically, when both parties have the “active status” activated, a green dot will indicate when your interlocutor is online and vice versa. In addition to the bubble, you will also see when exactly they were last active. If this makes you uncomfortable, you can hide your activity status from all users by simply turning this feature off. However, as a result, you won’t be able to see anyone else’s status either.

You can continue using this feature and hide your activity from unwanted users at the same time by restricting them.

• Their comments under your posts are hidden by default.

Finally, restricting a user will also hide their comments on your posts from the public. They will be able to comment normally, but your comment will only be visible to them unless you decide otherwise. You will also not receive notifications about their comments.

You can view your comment by tapping “View Comment” below the hidden comment. You can tap “Approve” or “Delete” or simply ignore the comment from then on.

If you have been constantly dealing with spam comments and the problem does not affect just one or two users, there are other solutions available. Hide offensive comments automatically via the “Hidden Words” menu or create your own custom list of unwanted words. Choose who can comment on your posts or limit activity for a certain period until things calm down.

What remains the same?

As said, a restricted user will still be able to message you and write comments under your posts, albeit with more provisions. More importantly, they will continue to see all of your content as normal: your new posts, stories, reels, the accounts you follow, etc. They can like your content and their likes will remain visible to other users. Plus, you’ll see their content as usual and be able to interact with it. If you follow them, restricting them will not unfollow them.

How to restrict someone on Instagram

You can access the restriction function from multiple menus.

From the user’s profile:

1. Find the person you want to restrict.
   
2. Look for three dots in the upper right corner of your profile.
   
3. Select “Restrict” and confirm your choice in the pop-up window.
   

From comments:

1. Choose the unwanted comment or comments by holding them on Android or swiping left on Apple.
   
2. Look for the exclamation point icon in the top menu.
   
3. Select “Block (name)” and then confirm your choice.
   

Of messages:

1. Open a conversation with the user you want to restrict.
   
2. Tap the user’s name at the top.
   
3. You’ll find the “Restrict” option near the bottom of the menu that appears. Confirm your choice.
   

From settings:

1. Open your settings and tap “Privacy.”
   
2. Find the “Restricted Accounts” menu.
   
3. You can add any account here by searching for it.
   

Additional FAQs

Can I undo a restriction?

Yes, you can remove a restriction from an account at any time. You can do this by opening the user’s profile and tapping the three dots or by going to their privacy settings and removing them from your restricted accounts list. You can also remove a restriction from your message request.

What is the difference between blocking and restricting someone?

Blocking is considered a drastic measure since the person you have blocked will not be able to interact with you in any way. Furthermore, it is not difficult to tell when you are blocked since the profile of the user who blocked you will appear empty. You will not be able to send them messages or leave comments. They will know that they are blocked, which can lead to unpleasant situations.

Unlike blocking someone, restricting them is much more discreet. Users will still see your content and get the impression that they can still interact with you anyway. It is a much more indirect way to avoid someone without causing conflict.

Will the user know that I have restricted them?

One of the main advantages of using the restriction feature instead of blocking someone is that it is a more subtle way to limit interaction. At first glance, they will not notice that they have been restricted.

However, if they are persistent, sooner or later they will realize that something is wrong. The user can log in from a different account or ask a friend to check if their comment appears below their post.

Can I be in a group chat with a restricted account?

If you end up in a group chat with a user you’ve restricted, a note will indicate this. Then, you can decide if you want to leave the conversation.

Keep your Instagram a safe space

It is essential that we have control of our social media accounts and not the other way around. Luckily, there are more and more environments that allow us to stay safe. The “restrict” option on Instagram is a great example.

Have you ever used it or do you prefer other privacy tools on the platform? Tell us in the comments!