Not all Instagram interactions are positive. Bad comments can hurt your mood. To stop this, use Instagram’s privacy feature to restrict such interactions. But, what does restrict mean on Instagram?
When you restrict an Instagram account, their comments and DMs are hidden. So, negative words won’t show up, unless you decide to see them. But, blocking and restricting on Instagram is different.
We’ll explain what happens when you restrict someone, the differences between block vs restrict, and how to do it. Let’s get started.
What Does Restrict Mean On Instagram
The Instagram restrict feature helps you block unwanted interactions without blocking someone. They can still see your posts, but can’t comment, tag you, or see when you’ve read their messages.
It’s a part of Instagram’s privacy settings. But don’t worry, the Instagram restrict feature is a quiet online privacy tool on Instagram.
It limits what another account can see and do without them noticing. This helps keep your space safe from unwanted interactions or harassment quietly.
Instagram introduced the Restrict feature in October 2019 as part of its anti-bullying policy.
It’s a positive step, especially since 42% of young people have faced online bullying. Plus, 40% of those have experienced it repeatedly.
And since 69.1% of Instagram users are under 35, it’s good to add safeguards against mean comments. This gives users more control and helps prevent online bullying.
It’s not surprising that this feature became popular. By mid-2024, over 75 million accounts had used Restrict at least one time.
So, what happens when you restrict someone on Instagram?
When you tap Restrict, that user’s comments become hidden from everyone else until you decide to approve, delete, or ignore them.
Messages from that blocked user go straight to Message Requests. So, you won’t receive push notifications.
The sender can’t see if you’ve read their message or your active status on Instagram. This gives you greater Instagram interaction control.
For most users, this feature helps in everyday relationships. You can mute your friend’s comments without drama. They’ll believe their comments are visible.
Now, back to your question: “What does restrict mean on Instagram?”
Simply put, it is a way to control how you manage your direct messages and comments from other users.
Read More:
Why Do You Need to Restrict an Instagram Account?
These are the reasons why restricting someone on Instagram can be a good idea:
- Reduce Negativeness — This gives you the power to limit unwanted interactions from certain people. You can stop them from bothering you with their negative feedback on Instagram, a vital part of managing toxic interactions.
- Maintain Mental Health — You can protect your mental well-being by reducing the stress and anxiety that comes from worrying about what others might say.
- Stay Hidden — By hiding your online status, you are using a key Instagram privacy settings feature. The person you restrict won’t be able to see if you have read their messages.
- Better Control — You get to decide how much interaction you want without fully blocking someone. This is one of the main reasons to why choose restrict on Instagram.
- Show Empathy — The restricted person won’t know they are on a temporary restriction, so they won’t feel bad or angry.
- Awesome Flexibility — You can unrestrict on Instagram anytime you want, giving the person another chance.
- Softer Approach — Restricting is a softer way to deal with unwanted comments than blocking someone on Instagram.
Read More: How to Hide Likes on Instagram
Block vs. Restrict Instagram: 9 Differences
Instagram introduced blocking in 2013, six years before the Restrict Instagram was released. Blocking is a popular feature but some people think blocking is a bit too harsh.
So, what’s the difference between blocking and restrictions on Instagram?
| Feature | Block | Restrict |
|---|---|---|
| Blocked users can see your posts and stories | No | Yes |
| Blocked users can comment on your posts | No | Yes, but only they can see |
| Blocked users can send you direct messages | No | Yes, but messages go to a separate folder |
| Blocked users can tag or mention you | No | Yes |
| Blocked users can see your active status | No | No |
| You can see their posts and stories in your feed | No | Yes |
| Blocked users are notified when you block them | No | No |
| You must unblock before following again | Yes | No |
| Blocked users can create new accounts to follow you | No | Yes |
With that in mind, when should you use Block or Restrict on Instagram?
Block
- If someone is spamming, scamming, or pretending to be someone else.
- If someone is stalking, harassing, or threatening you.
- If you don’t want to see or talk to someone on Instagram.
Restrict
- If someone is being rude by leaving inappropriate comments on your posts or stories.
- If someone keeps sending you messages you don’t want.
- If you want to avoid arguing with someone on Instagram.
- If you’re not sure about blocking someone yet, but you want to limit their interaction.
Make sure you know the differences so you can make the best choices. Now, if you really want to do that, how to restrict someone on Instagram?
Restrict on Instagram: 4 Ways to Do It
If you want to restrict an Instagram account, you have 4 options. The steps are similar on both iPhones and Android devices.
1. Restrict Instagram Accounts Through Messages
Here are the steps to restrict an Instagram account through Messages:
- Tap the Messages icon at the top right of your Instagram main page.
- Open the chat with the person you want to restrict.
- Tap the person’s name at the top of your chat.
- Tap Options under the Profile name, next to Mute.
- Tap Restrict, above the Block option.
Related: How to Delete Comments on Instagram
2. Restrict Someone Through Comment
Here’s what you need to do to restrict an Instagram account through comments:
- Find the post where the person you want to restrict made a comment.
- Tap View all comments for that post.
- Press and hold the comment made by the person you want to restrict.
- Tap the Notice icon.
- Tap Restrict followed by their username, under the Mute option.
3. Restrict Instagram Users From Settings
Here’s how to restrict an Instagram account through Settings:
- Tap on your profile at the bottom right of the screen.
- On your Profile page, tap the hamburger menu at the top right.
- Tap on Settings and privacy.
- Under the How others can interact with you section, tap on Restricted.
- Tap Continue to open the Restricted Accounts page.
- Search for the account you want to restrict.
- Tap Restrict next to their username.
4. Search and Restrict Someone Via Profile
Here’s what you need to do to search and restrict an Instagram account:
- Tap Explore and search for their username.
- Go to their profile.
- Tap Options or the Hamburger menu at the top right.
- Tap Restrict under the About This Account
How to Unrestrict Instagram Account?
That’s how you restrict someone on Instagram. But if you want to change it back to normal, how do you unrestrict an Instagram account?
Basically, when you have restricted accounts on your list, then there will be always an option to restrict them. So here are the steps:
- Go to your profile page.
- Tap on Settings and privacy menu.
- Under the How others can interact with you section, tap on Restricted.
- On the Restricted Accounts page, find the account you want to unrestrict.
- Tap Unrestrict
How to Know If Someone Restricted You On Instagram
You know how to restrict an Instagram account and unrestrict them. But do you know if someone is restricting you?
When you’re restricted, everything seems normal unlike when they block you. You can still see their posts and stories, plus make any comments on their post. So, here’s how to find out:
- Can you see if they are active? You have enabled activity status on your account but cannot see when someone is online. This could mean that they have restricted your Instagram account.
- Are your comments only visible to you? If you leave a comment on someone’s post, but it doesn’t show up for your mutual friends, it probably means you’ve been restricted.
- Are your DMs being replied to? If you send a DM to someone and they don’t reply or take a long time, it could mean they restricted you. Your message goes to their request folder and needs to be approved manually.
Final Thoughts on What Happens When You Restrict Someone on Instagram
Can you restrict someone on Instagram? Sure, you can. You can protect yourself and your followers from negative comments and messages, without completely blocking the person.
Instagram’s restriction is quite a new feature to help keep the platform more positive and enjoyable for its users. So, how do you restrict someone on Instagram? You have four methods to choose from:
- Through messages
- Through comments
- Through settings
- Through someone’s profile options
Those are easy steps that can make a big difference to your Instagram experience, especially if you’re a content creator trying to build an online presence. With this feature, you can prevent negativity from ruining your mood, making you more focused on content creation and building credibility.
That’s all for now. We hope this information helps. Be sure to subscribe to our blog to get more information about Instagram features and anything content creators.
FAQ about Restricting Instagram Account
What happens if you restrict an account on Instagram?
When you restrict an account on Instagram, you limit certain users’ interactions. They can still see your posts and stories, but their comments might not show up. Also, they won’t know when you’re online or if you’ve read their DMs.
When you restrict someone on Instagram do they know?
No, they don’t know because they don’t get any notifications when you restrict them. This feature allows you to restrict someone without their knowledge.
Can a restricted account see your story?
Sure, they can still access your profile if your account is public. So, they can see your followers and who you’re following.
What is the difference between restricted and blocked on Instagram?
There are at least nine differences as explained above. But, generally, when you restrict someone, they can still see your profile and posts as usual. The limitation is only on their comments and their DMs.
On the flip side, when you block someone, you completely prevent them from seeing your profile, posts, or stories, and sending you any messages.
What is the difference between restricted and muted on Instagram?
If you restrict someone on Instagram, their comments will be hidden and their DMs will need your approval. But, if you mute someone on Instagram, you simply hide their posts and stories on your feed.
