What happens when you block and unblock someone on Instagram?

Instagram’s blocking feature allows users to restrict certain accounts from viewing their profile, posts, and stories. Blocking someone on Instagram prevents them from interacting with your account in any way. When blocked, the user won’t be able to see your posts or stories on their feed. They also won’t be able to find your account, see your posts or stories on hashtags or locations, start conversations with you, add you as a friend, or interact with your posts in any way.

What happens when you block someone on Instagram?

Here’s an overview of what happens when you block someone on Instagram:

  • They won’t be able to view your profile, posts, or stories
  • Your posts and stories won’t show up on their feed
  • They won’t be able to search for your account or find your profile through hashtags or locations
  • They won’t be able to start a conversation with you or send you messages
  • They won’t be notified if you post something new
  • They won’t be able to add you as a friend
  • They won’t be able to like or comment on your posts
  • They won’t see your comments on mutual friend’s posts

In essence, blocking someone completely removes your account from their view on Instagram. While blocked, it will be like your account doesn’t exist to the user you’ve blocked.

Does the blocked person know you’ve blocked them?

No, Instagram does not notify users when they’ve been blocked. The blocked user will not get any kind of alert or indication that they’ve been blocked. To them, it will just seem like you deactivated your account or changed your username so they can’t find you anymore.

Can the blocked person see your posts or profile if they logout?

No, even if the blocked person logs out or uses a different device, they still won’t be able to view your profile or posts as long as they remain blocked. Blocking completely removes your content from their viewing experience on Instagram, regardless of whether they are logged in or logged out of their account.

Can you see the blocked person’s posts and profile when you’ve blocked them?

No, blocking on Instagram works both ways. So when you block someone, their posts and profile will also be completely hidden from your viewing experience. You won’t see their posts, stories, comments, likes, or any other activity from a blocked account in your feed or notifications.

Are your existing chat conversations also blocked?

Yes, when you block someone on Instagram it also blocks existing message conversations with that person. You will no longer be able to see or continue conversations you’ve previously had with a blocked user.

Can you still tag a blocked person in your posts and stories?

No, once you block someone you won’t be able tag or mention their username in your posts or stories. If you attempt to tag a blocked user, their username will not appear as a tagging option.

Can a blocked person tell if you’ve blocked them?

There’s no definitive way for a blocked user to know if someone has blocked them on Instagram. They won’t get a notification, and your account will simply seem to have disappeared. However, there are a few signs that may indicate to a user that they’ve been blocked:

  • Your profile is suddenly missing from their account search results
  • Your comments on mutual friends’ posts disappear
  • Their messages to you stop sending
  • Your comments and likes stop showing up on their posts
  • Their tagged photos of you disappear from their profile

While these signs could also mean you deleted your account or changed your username, if multiple of these things happen shortly after interacting with someone, it’s a good bet that they’ve blocked you.

What happens when you unblock someone on Instagram?

Unblocking a user on Instagram essentially reverses the blocking process. Here’s an overview of what happens when you unblock someone:

  • They will be able to view your profile and posts again
  • Your posts and stories will show up in their feed again
  • They will be able to search for and find your account
  • They will be able to message you again
  • They will get notifications when you post new content
  • They will be able to send friend requests to you
  • They will be able to like and comment on your posts again
  • They will be able to tag you in their posts and stories again

Essentially, unblocking gives the user full access to interact with your profile as if they were never blocked in the first place. It’s as if the block never existed.

Do they get notified when you unblock them?

No, just like being blocked, Instagram does not notify a user when they have been unblocked. The unblocked user will simply regain access to your profile without any alert or notification.

Are previous conversations restored after unblocking?

Yes, any conversations or message threads you previously had with the now unblocked user will automatically be restored. Both parties will be able to view and continue the conversation as if it was never interrupted.

Can they tell if they’ve been unblocked?

Like with blocking, there’s no definitive notification if someone has unblocked you. However, if the blocked account notices they’ve regained access to your profile and can interact with your content again, they may come to the conclusion that they’ve been unblocked.

Will unblocking notify mutual friends?

No, unblocking a user is completely private and does not generate any type of alert or notification that’s visible to mutual friends. Only you and the unblocked user will know the block has been removed.

Can you reblock someone after unblocking them?

Yes, you can always reblock someone at any time after choosing to unblock them. Their access to your profile will be removed again if you reblock them.

Is an unblocked user notified of new posts like other followers?

Yes, once unblocked the user will get notifications about your new posts to their feed like a normal follower. Instagram’s algorithms decide who gets notified of new posts based on interactions, not blocking history, so unblocked users have the same access as any other follower.

Why would you want to block someone on Instagram?

Here are some common reasons you may want to block another user on Instagram:

  • To stop someone from viewing your posts and stories if you don’t know them or don’t want them accessing your account
  • To prevent harassment or bullying from someone leaving negative comments
  • To cut off contact with an ex-friend or ex-partner
  • To stop someone you don’t like or disagree with from interacting with your content
  • To take a break and distance yourself from a friend without unfollowing them
  • To avoid spoilers from accounts posting content you want to avoid
  • To stop a spam account from interacting with your profile

In general, blocking allows you to remove someone’s access to your account without necessarily deleting them as a follower. It gives you more control over who can view and engage with your Instagram activity.

Reasons you may want to unblock someone on Instagram

And here are some potential reasons for unblocking an account on Instagram:

  • To reconnect with an old friend after taking some space from each other
  • To make amends with someone after resolving a disagreement
  • To allow an account you believe was blocked by mistake access again
  • To let someone view your posts again after taking a break from each other
  • To resume mutually beneficial business promotions and partnerships
  • To get valuable insights and opinions from someone you had blocked
  • To continue a mutually enjoyed conversation that was interrupted by blocking
  • To re-allow a family member access to your posts after resolving an issue

Unblocking reopens lines of communication and interaction, which is sometimes desired after tensions cool off or circumstances change between you and the blocked user.

Can you block and unblock anonymously?

Yes, the blocking and unblocking processes on Instagram are completely anonymous. As we’ve covered, Instagram does not notify a user if they have been blocked or unblocked by someone else. There is no way for them to definitively know who has blocked or unblocked them.

Blocking and unblocking happen privately in your account settings. Nobody else is alerted or notified, and there is no public record of who has blocked who. You can block or unblock other users discreetly without them being aware.

Limitations of blocking on Instagram

While blocking is a useful tool to control your Instagram experience, there are some limitations to be aware of:

  • Blocking only applies to Instagram – If you need to block someone across other websites or messaging platforms, you’ll need to block them separately on each platform.
  • The person can still create new accounts to interact with you – Blocking prevents an existing account from accessing your profile but it can’t stop a determined user from creating new accounts.
  • It doesn’t prevent tagging in posts by others – You can still be tagged by other people in photos and posts featuring the person you’ve blocked.
  • The person can still view posts you’re both tagged in – You’ll both still be able to see posts in which you’re both tagged, even if you’ve blocked each other.
  • It only limits their interaction with your account – They can still speak negatively of you to mutual friends and contacts through their own account.

So while blocking is very effective at limiting someone’s access to your own Instagram presence, it has some limitations in preventing them from impacting your relationships with others. Be mindful of these limitations when deciding if blocking is the right option.

Concluding thoughts

Blocking on Instagram offers powerful control over your account’s interactions and visibility. It prevents someone from viewing your posts, messaging you, and engaging with your profile. Unblocking reverses this effect and restores their access as if they were never blocked.

The block and unblock processes happen privately – users are not notified when blocked or unblocked. You can use Instagram’s blocking features to discreetly control who interacts with your account.

Use blocking thoughtfully with unwanted accounts to improve your Instagram experience. And don’t be afraid to unblock users if circumstances change between you, giving them renewed access to your shared virtual world.

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