Instagram Block vs. Restrict: Choosing the right one can be confusing. Each option changes how you interact with others on the app. In this guide, we’ll explain the differences between blocking and restricting. This will help you decide which option is best for you, whether you want to stop someone from seeing your posts or just limit how they interact with you. Keep reading to learn when to use each privacy setting!
Restricting vs. Blocking: How It Affects Access to Your Profile
When you block someone on Instagram, they can’t see anything on your profile at all. If you both followed each other, that would stop. They also won’t see any likes or comments you left on their posts before.
For example, if there were 10 likes on their post, you would only see nine because your like is hidden. They won’t be able to see your posts, stories, or any of your profile details unless they look at your profile from someone else’s account that you haven’t blocked.
If you blocked them, you can still see their profile, but it will look empty. You won’t see their posts or profile info. If their posts are breaking Instagram’s rules, you can report them before blocking.
Restricting someone on Instagram is different from blocking. They can still see your profile and posts as normal. They can see your stories and you can see theirs. It’s hard for them to tell if they’ve been restricted.
Only their comments and messages are hidden from your profile when you restrict someone. It’s like they are looking through a privacy window—they can see you, but they can’t talk to you, and they don’t know that they are restricted. Think of it as a softer way to block someone.
So, blocking someone on Instagram completely hides your profile from them. If you just restrict someone, they can still see your profile and posts.
Blocking vs. Restricting: The Effect on Comments
When you block someone on Instagram, they can’t comment on your posts at all. However, if you restrict them, both of you can still leave comments on each other’s posts. The catch is that when someone restricts comments, only they can see their comments; no one else can.
This means they don’t realize you’ve restricted them. They can keep commenting on your posts, but their comments won’t affect you or your other followers. Your comments on their posts will appear as usual, and they can see them just like before.
I mean comments upset you, think about filtering out these harmful comments on social media to make your online experience more enjoyable.
How to View Restricted Comments
Comments from someone you’ve restricted will still appear on your posts, but they’re hidden. You won’t get a notification when these comments are made, but you can see them if you check the comments on your post.
You can either ignore these comments or click “See Comment” to view them. Then, you can decide to either approve the comment, making it visible to everyone, or delete it, so no one can see it, including you and the person who commented.
No matter what action you take on the comment, the person who is restricted won’t know what you did.
Block vs. Restrict: How It Affects Messages
When you block someone on Instagram, you can’t send messages to each other. But if you restrict someone, things work a bit differently:
- A person you restrict can still send messages to you, but these go into your Requests folder.
- You won’t get any notifications for their messages. You will only see these messages if you go and look in your message requests.
- If you read their message, they won’t know you’ve seen it because there won’t be a “seen” mark.
If you find yourself in a group chat with someone you’ve restricted, Instagram will let you know. You can then choose to leave the group or stay.
To reply to a message from someone you’ve restricted, tap “Unrestrict” at the bottom of the screen if you want to start chatting normally with them. If you want to delete their message, tap “Delete.” If you decide you don’t want to talk to them anymore, tap “Block.”
Differences Between Blocking and Restricting on Instagram
Blocking and restricting Instagram affect your interaction differently, especially when it comes to online status, tags, mentions, and notifications. When you block or restrict someone, neither of you can see when the other is online.
If you block someone, they can’t tag or mention you in any posts. However, if you restrict someone, they can still tag you, but you won’t be notified. This changes if you’ve adjusted your settings to only allow tags from people you follow or to not allow tags at all.
Will They Know If They’re Blocked or Restricted?
If someone blocks you on Instagram, it’s hard to tell right away. But if you search for their profile and can’t find it, even though you know it’s active, they might have blocked you. To be sure, try looking them up from a different Instagram account.
If you restrict someone, they won’t notice. They can still comment on your posts, send messages, and view your profile just like anyone else. The difference is only visible to you.
If bullies are bothering you, restricting them might not be enough since they can still reach out. It might be better to hide your profile from them or block them completely to stop their contact.
When Should You Use Instagram Restricting vs. Blocking?
Your choice to block or restrict someone on Instagram depends on why you want to limit their access and how much you still want them to see your profile. If you don’t want them to interact with you at all or see anything on your profile, blocking them is the way to go.
Just remember, they might figure out they’ve been blocked. If you prefer to keep someone away without them realizing it, then restricting them is the better option.
How to Restrict or Block Someone on Instagram
There are three methods to block or restrict someone on Instagram. You can do it through your Instagram settings page or directly from their profile. You can also block or restrict someone right from the comments on a post. However, there’s a key difference: you can only restrict someone from the comments on your posts, but you can block anyone from the comments under any post.
How to Restrict or Block a User From Your Settings
To block or restrict a user from your account settings, follow these steps:
- Visit your profile and tap the three-bar menu icon at the top-right corner.
- Navigate to Settings and Privacy > Blocked or Restricted accounts.
- To block someone, under Blocked accounts, tap the cross icon in the top-right corner, search for the account you want to block, and press Block.
- To restrict someone, under Restricted accounts, search for the account you want to restrict, then tap the Restrict button next to their name.
How to Restrict or Block a User From Their Profile
You can also block or restrict someone directly from their profile page by doing this:
- Go to the profile of the Instagram account you want to block or restrict.
- Tap the three-dot menu at the top-right corner.
- Choose either “Restrict” or “Block.”
How to Restrict a User From Your Comments
On an Android phone, you can block or restrict someone from a comment by following these steps:
- Press and hold the comment from the person you want to block or restrict. Keep in mind that you can only restrict someone from commenting on your posts.
- Tap “Restrict account” or “Block account.” If the comment is not on your post, you’ll only see the option to “Block account.”
On an iOS device, do the following to restrict or block someone from a comment:
- Swipe left on the comment.
- Tap the information icon (it looks like an exclamation point inside a bubble), and then choose either “Restrict” or “Block.”
Instagram’s block and restrict tools give you different ways to manage how you interact with others on the platform. Learning about how these tools work and what they do can help you choose the right one when you want to keep someone away from Instagram.
Conclusion
In conclusion, deciding whether to block or restrict someone on Instagram comes down to how much you want to limit their access to you. Blocking cuts off all contact, while restricting lets you quietly reduce their interactions without them knowing.
Consider what level of privacy you need and choose the option that fits best. Use this guide to help you make a clear choice on how to manage your connections on Instagram. Ready to take control of your privacy? Go ahead and make your choice today!