“Shadowban” usually means your content is not being shown to non-followers. Instagram calls this not being eligible for recommendations.
Signs
- Sudden drop in reach from Explore, Reels and hashtags
- Posts not showing on hashtag pages
- Non-followers not seeing your Reels
How to check
Settings → Account Status → What can’t be recommended. If something is listed, you can request a review.
Common causes
- Posts breaking Recommendation Guidelines
- Banned or spammy hashtags
- Automation tools or bots
- Many reports from users
- Recycled or watermarked content
How to recover
- Remove or review flagged content
- Stop using third-party automation
- Avoid banned hashtags. See banned hashtags
- Post original, high-quality content
- Give it a few days to a few weeks
Not every drop is a shadowban
Reach naturally varies. Check content quality and timing too.
Read Account Status.
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