Breaking Instagram’s rules, even accidentally, can reduce your reach or get your account restricted. Here is a plain-English summary.
The main rule books
- Terms of Use: the legal agreement for using Instagram.
- Community Guidelines: what content is allowed.
- Recommendation Guidelines: what can be suggested on Explore and Reels to non-followers.
- Branded Content Policies: rules for paid partnerships.
Content that is not allowed
- Nudity and sexual content (with limited exceptions)
- Hate speech, bullying and harassment
- Violence and graphic content
- Spam and misleading content
- Selling regulated goods such as drugs, firearms or alcohol in many cases
- Content you do not own the rights to
Behaviour that gets accounts limited
- Following, liking or commenting at a very high speed
- Using bots or apps that automate actions
- Buying or selling accounts or usernames
- Fake engagement such as like-for-like groups at scale
- Sharing your password with unknown third parties
Read more in our guide on Instagram’s automated behaviour rules.
How to stay safe while growing
- Post original content and credit others when you share.
- Grow gradually instead of in sudden spikes.
- Use official features like Reels, Collabs and Paid Partnership labels.
- Keep two-factor authentication on.
- Check Settings → Account Status regularly to see if anything was removed.
What to do if you get a violation
Open Account Status, read the reason and request a review if you think it was a mistake. Avoid posting similar content until it is resolved.
Grow within the rules
ViralSocialUp never asks for your password and does not use bots. We promote your account to real people interested in your niche. Read our Ethical Commitment.
Grow your Instagram with real people
ViralSocialUp finds people who are genuinely interested in your niche. No bots, no password needed. Check your free growth preview first.