Instagram Restrict vs. Block: Which Privacy Option Should You Use
Mehvish Mushtaq is a computer engineer by degree. Her love for Android and gadgets led her to develop the first Android app for Kashmir. Known as Dial Kashmir, she won the prestigious Nari Shakti award from the President of India. She has been writing about technology for 6+ years and her favorite categories include how-to guides, explainers, tips and tricks for Android, iOS/iPadOS, social media, and web apps.
Arshmeet has been a tech tinkerer since childhood, but she realized her love for technology and writing about 5 years ago. Since then, she has been honing her skills and helping people figure out how things work, troubleshoot problems, choose the right app and products, and dig deep into the new and old concepts of technology. She is a self-professed Apple Enthusiast who loves debating what’s good and what’s not. It is her passion for finding techniques, hacks, apps, and products that make everyday life simpler.
What Does Restrict Mean on Instagram
Touted as an anti-bullying feature, restrict on Instagram helps avoid unwanted interactions without letting the other person know about it. Restrict is a toned-down version ofblockingthat offers the capabilities of blocking in a limited manner.
When you restrict someone, Instagram will hide their comments and messages, including notifications about the same. It’s like keeping the restricted user at a distance where you can’t see their comments and messages whenever you use Instagram, and they won’t even know about it.
Can the Other Person Know You Blocked or Restricted Them
The biggest drawback of the block feature is that it’s not private. A direct way to know if someone has blocked you doesn’t exist. However,many methods helpyou confirm the same.
Fortunately, the restriction feature is safe. That’s because the other person will never know if they have been restricted. Everything appears normal on their end. They can still comment, send messages, and view your profile like any other user. It’s on your end where things are different.
What Happens When You Restrict or Block Someone
Restricted vs. Blocked on Instagram: Who Can See Your Posts
When you block someone, they cannot see your posts or stories. However, when you restrict a person, they can still see your posts,stories, and highlightsas per usual.
Who Can Comment or Interact With Posts
Since the blocked person cannot see your posts, they can’t interact with them, i.e., like, comment, or share. However, when the restricted person posts a comment,
In a nutshell, the restricted feature allows the other user to enjoy their right to comment without disturbing and impacting you.
What Happens to Comments
While still available under the post’s comment section, it’s hidden under a protected message or what Instagram refers to as a sensitivity screen. You must open the post to view the comment.
You can either leave the comment as it is or,
Note:When you take action on the comment, the restricted user isn’t notified. So, don’t worry; you are safe either way.
Can You Interact With Their Posts
If you’ve blocked them, you can’t see their posts and, in turn, can’t interact with them. But when you’ve just restricted the person, your comments behave normally on their posts. Everyone will see them, including the restricted person.
Can Restricted Accounts Message You
A blocked person can neither message you nor can you send a message without unblocking them. Things are different in the case of the restrict mode.
When you restrict a person, they can still message you. However,
You also get the privilege to view the message without Instagram notifying the restricted person with the ‘Seen’ text in their inbox. That is, they won’t know when you have read the messages. It’s like theIgnore mode of Facebook Messenger.
If you want to reply to such messages or send a new message to the restricted account, you must Unrestrict (remove restriction).
Restricted vs. Blocked on Instagram: What Happens to the Activity Status
When you restrict a person, they won’t be able to see yourActive status on Instagram. The same holds for the block option.
Can Restricted Accounts Tag or Mention You in Posts
When you block someone on Instagram, they won’t be able to tag you in their posts or stories. Your username won’t be available to them when they try to mention you. On the other hand, when you restrict an account, they will still be able to tag or mention you.
Additionally, you will be notified when a restricted account mentions you in their story or tags you in a post. So, if you wish to avoid being tagged in posts without your consent, it’s best to block the account.
Restricted vs. Blocked: Do You Get Notifications
Blocking someone removes all interactions with the account, so there is no question of notifications. When it comes to restricting, though, as you must have noticed, you aren’t notified about two kinds of interactions — messages and comments. But you get notified about tags.
How to Restrict or Block Someone on Instagram
Step 1: Open theprofileyou want to restrict in the Instagram app.
Step 2: Hit thethree-dot iconat the top-right corner. SelectRestrictorBlockfrom the menu.
If you want to unrestrict or unblock someone, open theInstagramapp →profile tab→three-line icon→ scroll down and selectRestricted AccountsorBlocked Accountsaccordingly. Next, select the user and unrestrict or unblock them.
Instagram Restrict vs. Block: Which One to Use
If you don’t want the other person to see your posts or stories or interact with you in any way, you should block them. Use the block when you cannot bear the person and are okay with them knowing they have been blocked.
On the other hand, if you want to avoid someone without letting them know, restrict is a good option. When using restrict, your posts and stories are still accessible to the person. Only comments and messages are affected. You can call restrict a soft block.
FAQs
Yes, restricted accounts can see your followers since they can still easily visit your profile. They can also see who follows you.
You can’t tell if you have been restricted by an account on Instagram. However, the simplest way to tell if you have been blocked is by trying to visit a certain profile. If you cannot find the profile of the person you’re looking for, the person may have blocked you.
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Last updated on 10 July, 2024
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