Instagram terms explained, A to Z

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A

Action block

A temporary restriction that stops you from liking, following, commenting or messaging, usually after too many actions too quickly. Learn more →

Active status

The green dot showing you are online in DMs. Learn more →

Account Status

A settings page showing removed content, recommendation limits and features you cannot use. Learn more →

Algorithm

The ranking systems that decide what appears in your feed, stories, Reels and Explore. Learn more →

Alt text

A text description of an image for screen readers; also helps Instagram understand your content.

Archive

A private place where hidden posts and saved stories are stored. Learn more →

B

Bio

The 150-character description on your profile. Learn more →

Boost

Turning an existing post into an ad from inside the app. Learn more →

Branded content

Posts made in partnership with a brand, labelled “Paid partnership”. Learn more →

Broadcast channel

A one-to-many chat where a creator shares updates with members. Learn more →

Business account

A professional account with Insights, contact buttons and shopping tools. Learn more →

C

Caption

The text under a post or Reel, up to 2,200 characters. Learn more →

Carousel

A post with up to 20 photos or videos that people swipe through. Learn more →

Close Friends

A private list of people who can see selected stories. Learn more →

Collab post

A post shared on two profiles at once, with combined likes and comments. Learn more →

Community Guidelines

Instagram’s rules about what content is allowed. Learn more →

Creator account

A professional account for influencers and public figures with Insights and creator tools. Learn more →

CTA (call to action)

A prompt telling people what to do next, like “Save this” or “DM to order”.

D

DM

Direct message: a private chat on Instagram. Learn more →

E

Engagement rate

(Average likes + comments) ÷ followers × 100. Measures how much your audience interacts. Learn more →

Engagement pod

A group that agrees to like and comment on each other’s posts. Learn more →

Explore

A page of recommended content from accounts you do not follow. Learn more →

F

Feed

The main home screen showing posts.

Follower

Someone who follows your account. Learn more →

G

Ghost followers

Followers who never interact, often bots or inactive accounts. Learn more →

Grid

The layout of posts on your profile. Learn more →

H

Handle

Your @username. Learn more →

Hashtag

A word or phrase with # that groups posts by topic. Learn more →

Hidden Words

A filter that hides offensive comments and message requests.

Highlights

Stories saved permanently on your profile. Learn more →

Hook

The first second or first line that makes people stop scrolling.

I

Impressions

Total times your content was shown (being replaced by “views”). Learn more →

Influencer

A creator whose recommendations influence their audience. Learn more →

Insights

Analytics for professional accounts. Learn more →

L

Link sticker

A story sticker that sends viewers to a website.

Live

A real-time video broadcast. Learn more →

M

Media kit

A one-page summary of a creator’s audience, stats and rates for brands.

Micro-influencer

A creator with roughly 10,000–100,000 followers.

Mute

Hiding someone’s posts or stories without unfollowing. Learn more →

N

Nano-influencer

A creator with roughly 1,000–10,000 followers.

Niche

The specific topic your account focuses on.

Notes

Short 60-character updates shown above the inbox. Learn more →

O

Organic reach

Reach you get without paying for ads. Learn more →

Q

Quiet Mode

A setting that pauses notifications and auto-replies to DMs. Learn more →

R

Reach

The number of unique accounts that saw your content. Learn more →

Reels

Short vertical videos; the main way to reach new people. Learn more →

Remix

A Reel made alongside someone else’s Reel.

Restrict

A quiet way to limit someone’s interactions with you. Learn more →

S

Saves

How many people bookmarked your post; a strong value signal. Learn more →

Shadowban

Informal term for content not being recommended to non-followers. Learn more →

Shares

How many times your content was sent or shared; one of the strongest reach signals.

Stories

Photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. Learn more →

Story Insights / Navigation

Forward taps, back taps, next story and exits on stories. Learn more →

T

Targeted growth

Promoting your profile to real people matching chosen interests, accounts and locations. Learn more →

Trending audio

A sound being used by many Reels, marked with an arrow.

U

UGC

User-generated content: content made by customers or fans. Learn more →

V

Vanish mode

A DM mode where messages disappear after being seen. Learn more →

Verification

The blue tick confirming an account is authentic. Learn more →

Views

How many times your content was played or displayed.

W

Watch time

How long people watched your Reel; key for Reels ranking.