Debunking Instagram Myths – Is Instagram Shadowbanning Real?

Hi friends!

So a while ago I took part in a webinar hosted by Planoly, Debunking Instagram Myths. The people at planoly have been speaking to Instagram so they’re well placed to give this information. It was enlightening! Some of it I knew, some I didn’t. I even got to ask questions at the end, so I thought I’d share with you all some of what I’ve learnt.

So let’s get started!

Is Instagram shadow banning real?

No. It’s a myth! (I know, this shocked me too). Apparently it’s all to do with the algorithm, that pesky algorithm. There isn’t anything that you can do that’s going to make you suddenly shadow banned. If you’re not getting the engagement you used to or that you expect, it’s to do with the algorithm. It depends on a user’s relationship with your content. If a user doesn’t engage with your content, they stop getting shown it.

So in theory, and this is just my thinking, if you put out some epically bad content, it could affect your standing as users may not engage. So make sure you’re putting out content that encourages people to engage with you!

Can too many Instagram hashtags get you a Shadowban?

No. Not only is there no Shadow Ban, there are no punishments for using too many or too little hashtags. There’s a limit of 30 hashtags per post and Instagram won’t actually let you add any more than this. That being said, you have to be smart with the hashtags you use.

There’s a great website they recommended for discovering relevant hashtags that will help get your posts in front of the relevant audiences. It’s a good idea to get a collection of niche hashtags relevant to your content. Don’t use big ones like instafam etc. as they are so huge your content will be drowned out.

It’s worth noting that there are hashtags that are banned though. I doubt you’ll be wanting those anyway, but a good way to check is to search a tag and if nothing is there then it’s likely banned.

Should you put Instagram hashtags in comments or caption?

It doesn’t matter. Not really – Instagram confirmed it. Either way your content will show on those tags. I personally like having them in my post, just further down. They said it’s fine if you use seperators to get them further down the post, but all in all, the choice is yours!

Also good to add that it’s important to not use the same hashtags every time you post. Mix it up a bit! It should be relevant to each picture so spend some time getting the right hashtags.

Will using the same hashtags be a bad thing?

Yes and no. Using the same ones aren’t going to be a totally bad thing, but you shouldn’t just copy and paste. You should be using hashtags relevant to your content and mixing it up a little.

Is the Instagram Algorithm designed to hide your content and censor you?

No. It’s meant to rank your content relevant to a particular person’s feed. I still think personally that it’s hella annoying, but I get where they’re coming from, ish. The important takeaway from this one is that you need to post what’s relevant to your followers as well as for you.

Will switching to an Instagram business account will lower your engagement

No. This won’t hinder your engagement at all, in fact there are so many awesome tools you can use when you have a business account! The analytics are cool and lets you know what’s working and what isn’t. It also tells you the best time to post for your followers.

Does it matter what I comment on people’s posts?

Yes. If you’re commenting things like ‘love this pic’ or just emojis on a post, it’s a red flag that you’re an engagement bot. It’s key to write relevant comments to people’s pictures.

Changing captions after posted will hinder your content in the algorithm

Nope. It’s totally fine to amend your captions as much as you want after you’ve posted it! I actually always amend mine!

Is Instagram going to hide likes?

It’s in Beta testing. So there’s a possibility this is going to happen but a lot of people aren’t happy about it. They reckon if it doesn’t happen by the end of the year then it won’t.

Is the follow/unfollow method the best way to grow your following

No. There’s no denying that t’s effective but doesn’t create long term results. The followers you gain from it will likely unfollow in time and not engage with your content at all. You need to build relationships and comment – not just looking at stories and liking. You have to leave meaningful comments and engage with your community.

Will being in Comment Pods be detrimental?

Here’s where I disagree with what they said in the webinar. They said that it’s not a good idea because brands will see that it’s always the same people who comment and reply, but I’ve seen people use it to great success. Also, they did agree that Instagram’s algorithm is based on acceleration, so if people are liking and commenting soon after you post, it’s only going to help!

How often should I post on Instagram?

There are no hard and fast rules. If you can, once a day is good. If you don’t have any content that day, skip it. It’s better to do less than to put out sub par quality posts just because you haven’t posted that day.

I know this isn’t the Bookstagram specific post I’ve promised – that’s coming soon! I hope you enjoyed this post and found it useful, let me know if you know anymore that I missed!

A special thank you to my Patreons who make my blogging possible! Check out my Patreon and what rewards you can get by supporting me on this link.

Special thanks to Cassandra Lee – MADEUP Parenting and Book Reviews who is Galactic Warrior! and Jen who hasn’t sent me her link yet.