For whatever number of years, you have been a user on Instagram, at one point the question ‘has this person blocked me on Instagram?’ has come up.
Either because a frequently viewed Instagram account is suddenly ‘MIA’ or probably because a quick search for a page turns up a blank.
There may be a myriad of reasons as to why an Instagram account might not be found; either the account user has disabled the account, or the username has been changed.
Well, whatever the reason, it is still a possibility that you have been blocked on Instagram.
It is of course not a crime, neither is it the end of the world if, in fact, a blocking has occurred. It simply means that the vibe of both parties does not mix.
One might have several questions on the blocking process
What It Means to Be Blocked and How to Tell a Blocking Has Occurred
There are two kinds of blocking on Instagram. Users can be blocked by Instagram as well as individuals.
Being blocked by Instagram involves the disabling of one’s Instagram account. This usually occurs because Instagram believes that some of its terms of service have been violated.
In a sense that is being blocked, but in the other sense of the term, it simply means that an individual has censored what the Instagram user can view on his/her page.
For an Instagram user, being blocked means that an individual has cut off your access to his or her Instagram page.
This means that previously viewed activities, such as; viewing posts, liking content, and commenting on pictures are no longer an option for the blocked Instagram user.
There are several different reasons as to why a person might be blocked. Ranging from personal to mental reasons, and even emotional reasons.
It could be because the content rubs the individual the wrong way, or maybe the individual would like to keep his/her life private. There’s also the reason for emotional restoration.
An individual might view the blocking as a physical representation of blocking out his or her feelings towards the Instagram user.
Not forgetting that a lot of people are blocked because of the negative energy they spew. As everyone is in charge of their respective mental health, it’s no wonder why blocking would be an option in this scenario.
For whatever reason it is, there isn’t a need to take it personally. Rather the person’s decision should be respected.
But even before jumping to conclusions, one must first confirm if they’ve been blocked. With the way the Instagram application is set up, there are several ways to know if one has been blocked on Instagram. A few of those ways are;
- Searching the username turns up a blank. That is, the username will not appear.
- If for whatever reason the username is found, either from previous direct messages or even by chance on the search bar, and the profile is then opened, instead of pictures it shows “No Posts Yet.”
- The space that shows the number of following and followers is blank.
- In some cases, a brief “user not found” message appears on the screen.
- Following the blocker will no longer be possible.
- Instagram direct messages from the blocker will disappear after some time.
- The likes and comments from the ‘blocker’ will disappear from the feed.
- They cease to be followers of the blocked account as the number of following and followers will decrease.
If any of these reasons is confirmed, then, unfortunately, a block has occurred. But now that it’s been confirmed, some questions might arise.
Either out of indignation or simple curiosity, one might wonder ‘Can this person who blocked me on Instagram still see my profile?’
Can the Profile of a Blockee Be Viewed by the Blocker
When a user is blocked on Instagram, naturally they are unable to view any posts made by the blocker. This includes stories, live videos, and posted content.
But has it ever occurred to the blocked individual that the blocker might still have access to his/her account?
Some might argue that it does not matter, they might say that after doing the blocking, the blocker would not care about the page of the blocked. That being said, it does not take away from the fact that it remains a valid question.
Moving forward, if the answer to the question is yes, then the user can rest assured. After being blocked, the contents of the Instagram page of the blocked individual is barred from the view of the blocker.
This seems only fair, if one person is not allowed to view an Instagram page, it seems only logical for the process to be vice versa.
Therefore, if an Instagram user is blocked by an individual on Instagram, then they no longer have access to photos, numbers of followers, and following, and finally, they have no access to Direct messages either.
The only major difference is that while a blocked individual cannot find the page of the blocked talk less of possessing previous direct messages, the blocker can always find the page of the blocked individual while also having access to the previous direct messages.
Frequently Asked Questions for When One Is Blocked
Is It Possible to Find My Profile Through the Search Tab
The blocker still has access to finding you on the search tab, they will not be able to view your posts but they can still locate your page.
But on the other hand, you are unable to find or interact with the blocker after a few days of being blocked.
Can One See Changes in the Profile Picture and Bio of the Blocker?
In short yes. After being blocked, one can still see the profile picture and bio of the blocker.
This is only possible during the first few days, after which the profile becomes completely inaccessible to the blocked party. Be it a public profile or a private one.
In the Event of Blocking, What Happens to Previous Likes and Comments on the Page of the Blocked
After someone is blocked, the old comments are not deleted by Instagram. This is true for both profiles.
This means that any comments that occurred before the blocking remain even after the blocking.
Although old comments remain, making new comments is impossible when one is blocked.
The likes though, disappear until the individual is unblocked. This also means that a blocked individual is unable to like any posts made by the blocker.
Can One Be Tagged by the Blocker After Being Blocked?
It might come as a surprise, and to some might seem counter-productive, but the answer is yes.
It is very possible for the blocked to be tagged or mentioned on an Instagram post by the blocker. In that vein, it is also possible for the blocked to tag or mention the blocker as well.
That being said, this is only possible if each party knows the exact username of the blocked/blocker.
This is because Instagram will not automatically suggest the username anymore, as it is assumed the individual no longer exists to that Instagram account.
An interesting thing to note is that, although tagging or mentioning is possible, Instagram will not notify either party about it. This means that it will not appear on either person’s activity log.
Is There Any Other Way to View the Profile of a Blocker
While stalking is discouraged in its entirety, there is still a way to visit the page of a blocker. Either to feed one’s curiosity or to be informed on how the blocker is doing, there are two options.
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- Create a new Instagram account. This account is then free to visit the page of the blocker.
- Use someone else’s profile to look through the page of the blocker.
What Happens if the Blocked and the Blocker Are in the Same Group Chat
Nothing significant changes. Being on the same group chat while being blocked does not mean any party will be kicked off the group. The only major difference is that you will no longer be able to see each other’s messages in the group.
The old messages will of course not be deleted, but subsequent messages will be hidden until a time when the blocked individual is unblocked.
Does Instagram Notify Anyone About the Blocking
No, Instagram does not send any notifications out to the blocked party. They can only find out if they happen to search for the page of the blocker.
Also, Instagram does not notify any followers of either party about the blocking. The information is strictly between the blocked and the blocker.
Does Being Blocked Affect Follower Numbers
Yes, it does. Once an individual is blocked, the blocker ceases to be a follower again. The same is said about the blocked individual, who also ceases to be a follower of the blocker.
Until such a time as when an unblocking occurs, at this point, the two parties will have to follow each other again.
Categories of Blocking
Instagram Blocking
This is the general blocking that this article discusses. It covers the entire activity of the Instagram account. That is this form of blocking shields the entire Instagram account of the blocker from the blocked party.
Instagram Story Blocking
For clarification, there is no actual way to block an individual from viewing Instagram stories. The only thing that is currently possible is to restrict individuals from viewing stories by using the hide option or better still the ‘close friend’ option.
Another thing that can be done is the muting of individual stories. This removes their content for however long is needed. Only until the muting is lifted.
Instagram Comment Blocking
This blocking restricts individuals from making comments on particular Instagram posts. This however does not affect their access to viewing and interacting with all other activities, be it posts, Instagram stories or even direct messaging.
Of course, their older comments are not affected, but subsequent comments after blocking are made impossible.
It is not a common form of blocking because not a lot of people are aware of how to go about it. To block particular post commenters, just follow the following steps;
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- Go to Instagram settings
- Scroll through and select ‘Privacy and Security
- Tap on comment controls
- Scroll through and click on block comments
- Add the usernames of individuals who will be blocked from making comments on subsequent posts
Counter-Blocking When Someone Has Blocked You on Instagram
It is a common occurrence to want to ‘one-up’ certain individuals, either from a place of pride or indignation. The feeling that you should have done the blocking first may creep in on occasion. This feeling is not only valid but common as well.
For this reason, there is a process one can follow to block an individual who is originally the blocker.
To be able to proceed, the block must have occurred only a few days before. This is because during the first few days the account of the blocker is still accessible.
First off is finding the profile, there are a couple of ways to go about it;
- Finding the profile through the search bar
- If a conversation has previously been had via direct messaging then that’s also a way to find the profile.
Having found the page, the blocking can be done either through the Instagram profile or through the DM’s:
Blocking Via Profile;
- Locate the profile through the search tab
- Click on the three dots icon at the top right corner
- The block option is visible, click on it
- Select the “dismiss” option afterward
- To confirm the profile is blocked, the unblock option will become apparent
- You will see the unblock bottom when the user is blocked
Blocking via Instagram DM’s;
This feature is distinct because unlike with Facebook messenger, where individuals are only blocked from messaging, Instagram allows users to block the entire interaction by individuals with their page. This can be achieved directly from the DMs.
- Locate the profile through the DM icon at the top right corner
- Tap on the info option at the top right
- Click on block
- Select the “dismiss” option afterward
- The unblock option becomes apparent and this serves as a confirmation of the blocking