Why Shadowban is Still a Real Issue (and Why You Need an Instagram Shadowban Test)

We know what you’re thinking—“Shouldn’t Instagram have figured this out by now?” You’d think so, but shadowban is still a real thing to worry about. In a platform constantly evolving to filter out spam and protect user experience, some genuine accounts get caught in the crossfire. Instagram’s algorithm is more sophisticated than ever, but it’s not perfect. 

Imagine this: you’ve just posted what you know is great content—maybe it’s a product launch you’ve spent months preparing for, or a heartfelt post you’re sure your audience WILL connect with. But instead of the usual flood of likes and comments, there’s SILENCE. Your post gets zero comments, barely any likes, and doesn’t even appear in the hashtags you’ve used! It’s confusing, frustrating, and honestly, a little disheartening. You start to wonder, “Did I do something wrong? Is my content not good enough?” But in reality, you might be dealing with a shadowban.

In 2024, shadowban isn’t just an urban legend; it’s a real issue. Instagram is continually updating its policies and tweaking algorithms to curb misuse, and that’s great for keeping the platform safe. But it also means that innocent mistakes—like using a banned hashtag—can land your account in trouble. And when you rely on Instagram for your business, brand, or creative expression, a shadowban can feel like hitting a brick wall.

(The Hidden) Risk of Banned Hashtags

Hashtags can be a creator’s best friend, but if you’re not careful, they can also be your , well… Worst enemy. There’s a list of banned hashtags that Instagram doesn’t officially publish, but using them can severely impact your visibility.

Think about it—hashtags are supposed to make your content discoverable, but if you’re using ones that are flagged or banned, you might as well be shouting into the void. Your posts won’t show up in hashtag searches, and you’ll start to see your engagement falls down. It’s like trying to run a race with a weight tied to your leg—you’re putting in the effort, but you’re held back from the start!

This is where things get tricky. You might not even know which hashtags are on the blacklist, and that’s what makes this issue so sneaky. It’s not just about avoiding the obvious ones; even hashtags that seem harmless could be working against you. That’s why staying informed and proactive is key.

Here are five facts about banned hashtags that might surprise you:

1. Some banned hashtags seem completely innocent: Take #beautyblogger, for example. It’s a popular hashtag among makeup enthusiasts, but at one point, it was banned because it was flooded with spammy content. Imagine spending hours on a tutorial only for it to disappear from searches!
2. Banned hashtags can change over time: Just because a hashtag is safe today doesn’t mean it will be tomorrow. A trending hashtag can quickly get overrun with inappropriate content, leading Instagram to ban it temporarily or permanently… It’s like walking a tightrope—one minute you’re fine, the next you’re off balance, UGH.
3. Even one banned hashtag can hurt your entire post: It doesn’t matter if the rest of your hashtags are pristine—just one banned tag can cause your post to get shadowbanned. Think of it like a rotten apple spoiling the whole bunch; all it takes is ONE. Ugh (even louder this time!)
4. You might not know a hashtag is banned until it’s too late: Instagram doesn’t exactly hand out a list of banned hashtags. You often find out the hard way—after your post flops. Yup. It’s like walking into a trap you didn’t even know was there.
5. Banned hashtags aren’t just about inappropriate content: Sometimes, hashtags get banned simply because they’ve been overused or are associated with irrelevant or spammy posts. #fitnessgirls, for example, might sound harmless, but if it’s been flagged too often, it could hurt your post. It’s like being punished for someone else’s bad behavior.

Instagram Shadowban Test

Why Reach and Engagement Matter More Than Ever

Here’s the thing—as you most probably already know, Instagram is a platform driven by engagement. The more your audience interacts with your content, the more the algorithm will favor you, pushing your posts out to a broader audience. But if you’re shadowbanned, all of that hard work goes unnoticed. Your reach drops, your engagement suffers, and suddenly, the community you’ve worked so hard to build starts to dwindle!

We all know that in the world of social media, reach isn’t just a number; it’s BASICALLY your connection to your audience. It’s how your voice gets heard, how your products get seen, and how your message spreads! If only a fraction of your followers are seeing your content, you’re missing out on opportunities to grow, engage, and make an impact.

And let’s be real—Instagram can be tough. It’s a competitive space, and every post counts. So, when your engagement takes a hit because of something as avoidable as a shadowban, it’s not just frustrating; it’s a threat to your success on the platform…

Introducing the Game-Changer: Our New Shadowban Test Feature

We’re genuinely excited about this because WE KNOW how much of a difference it can make. At IQ Hashtags, we’ve just rolled out a brand new feature—Shadowban Scan—and it’s designed to help you take back control of your Instagram visibility!

Here’s how it works:

1. Jump into the app: Head over to the Shadowban tab in the IQ Hashtags app.
2. Enter your profile: All you need to do is enter the public name of the Instagram profile you want to scan (just remember, it can’t be private).
3. Get the insights: The scan will dive into your profile and flag any banned hashtags you’re using. 

But here’s where it gets even better: once you know which hashtags are dragging down your posts, you can easily remove or replace them. No more blindly guessing which tags are causing problems. Our Shadowban Scan gives you a detailed list of all the banned or risky hashtags you’ve used, so you can make the necessary changes to protect your visibility.

So… Don’t Let Shadowban Hold You Back!

The reality is, shadowban isn’t going away anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean you have to fall victim to it. By understanding the risks, staying informed, and using tools like our Shadowban Scan, you can protect your profile, keep your content visible, and continue growing your presence on Instagram!

Remember, your reach and engagement are too important to leave to chance. Don’t let something as preventable as a shadowban stand between you and your audience. Take control, stay ahead of the game, and let your content shine the way it’s meant to!

The post Your Guide to Instagram Shadowban: How to Detect and Prevent It appeared first on IQhashtags - Instagram hashtag search tool.

Note: You can also use this guide to edit your connection with Facebook, for example, when you want to connect using another Facebook account or add more Instagram profiles to your IQ Hashtags account.

*This is the updated version of this guide – based on the new Meta authorization requirements. We update the tutorial regularly, check it every once in a while to stay informed!

Before we begin the process of re-authenticating and-relinking, make sure you remember that:

• In order to re-authenticate, you’ll need to be an Admin/Editor and have rights to the Facebook Page linked to your Instagram business profile.
• If you are an Admin of your Facebook Business Manager this doesn’t always mean you automatically have all the correct permissions to the Business Page connected to the Instagram Business Profile you’re trying to link to IQ Hashtags. It’s best to have full rights both on the Facebook page and on Facebook Business Manager for the Facebook page.

 Make sure that the Facebook profile which is connected to your IQ Hashtags account is the profile through which you have the Admin/Editor role or full permissions to the Facebook page linked to the connected IG business profile

• If you’re connected with the wrong Facebook profile, disconnect it and click “Continue with Facebook” to connect IQ Hashtags with the correct Facebook profile, then please try to re-authenticate again.

• Once you’ve confirmed that the correct Facebook profile is connected to your IQ Hashtags account, please verify that your Instagram profile is linked to the Facebook page you have the rights to. You can go to this tutorial for more information on how to do this.

Note: If you’re unable to select the correct page because Instagram is showing an error message, it might mean that you’re not an Admin of the Facebook page in Facebook Business Manager.

 Re-link and re-authenticate

If you’re still encountering the issue, even after ensuring all the Facebook settings are set up correctly, there might still be a connection error on the Instagram/Facebook side.

Also, if you’ve gone through all the steps described above, which confirm you have the correct role/ permissions to the Facebook page, and that the Facebook page is linked correctly within the Instagram app, then it’s possible that you may have used IQ Hashtags in the past and still have some outdated permissions enabled on your Facebook.

Here’s how to check it and re-link your account:

1. Business Integrations – this is where all third-party app permissions are located. Find the IQ Hashtags app on the list. Remove IQ Hashtags permissions from Facebook by clicking on this link to access your Facebook Business Integrations (https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=business_tools). On this Facebook list, scroll or search to find IQHashtags:

2. As shown above, select IQHashtags, and click “Remove” (or “Disconnect”)

Important note: Don’t worry about the pop-up box that says ‘This may delete your IQHashtags.com account and activity’. This is an automated box from Meta and doesn’t apply to this case – your IQ Hashtags account WON’T be deleted, and this process WON’T have any permanent effect on your in-app stats. This is simply a part of the process to refresh the permissions we have for your IQ Hashtags account.

3. It can take up to 30 minutes for Facebook to clear this connection (and its cache files).

3. Re-authorize permissions by going to your IQ Hashtags Settings (Settings -> Profile), click on the “Continue with Facebook” button.

If you’re seeing the new Facebook permissions, please select the Instagram accounts you wish to analyze and use with IQ Hashtags.

Important step: while re-linking and re-authenticating your account, pay attention to this Facebook pop-up window:

• Click “Edit access” to make sure all the permissions are checked correctly and all the profiles you wish to use with IQ Hashtags are also ticked.

4. Once you have reconnected your account, IQ Hashtags can ensure proper connection of your Facebook and Instagram Business accounts within the platform.

And… Voila! Your account should be linked properly right now and you should be able to fully benefit from using IQ Hashtags.

In case you still need help, contact our Support team via support@iqhashtags.com, and we’ll find a solution.

The post How to Integrate and Re-authenticate Your Instagram Account with IQ Hashtags Through Facebook appeared first on IQhashtags - Instagram hashtag search tool.

*This is the updated version of this guide – based on the new Meta authorization requirements. We update the tutorial regularly, check it every once in a while to stay informed!

NOTE: All Instagram profiles analyzed in IQ Hashtags must be linked to a Facebook page you have access. It is only an Instagram API requirement used to enable IQ Hashtags to analyze data about your Instagram profile. Facebook pages do not have to show any activity or be regularly updated. Remember, one Instagram profile can be linked to one Facebook page.

Before we begin, confirm that:

• Your Instagram account is switched to a business or a creator account – learn how to switch to a business/creator account.
• You have Facebook Access to the page with full or partial control. If your Instagram account is linked to your personal Facebook profile, you won’t be able to authorize your IQ Hashtags account – learn more about the page access.

How to Link Your Instagram to Facebook

1. Open Instagram: Launch the Instagram app on your mobile device.
2. Access Account Settings: Tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner to access your profile. Then tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner and select “Settings.”
3. Link Accounts: In the Settings menu, tap “Account Center.” Under Account settings, select “Logging in with Accounts,” and click “Add Account.”

Link your Instagram account to Facebook – Tutorial

4. Connect to Facebook: Tap “Facebook” from the list of available platforms. If you’re not already logged in, you’ll be prompted to log in to your Facebook account.

• Choose a Page from your Pages that you’d like to connect to or select Create a new Facebook Page.
• Tap Done after you’ve selected a Page or created a new Page.

5. Authorize Permissions: Instagram will request permission to access certain information on your Facebook account. Review the permissions and authorize them to proceed with the linking process.

6. Select Sharing Options: After authorization, choose the sharing options for your Instagram posts on Facebook. You can share posts to your Facebook timeline, your Facebook page (if you manage one), or both.

Complete Setup: Finalize the setup and link your Instagram account to your Facebook profile and page (pay attention to choose the exact page you wish to link).

Wohoo! Your professional account is now connected to your Facebook Page. If the Page you’d like to connect isn’t showing in the drop down from your profile, it’s probably because you don’t have Facebook access to that Page. What should you do to double check it? Check your Page’s settings and ensure you have permission to add that Page to your Instagram professional account.

The post How to Link Your Instagram Account to Facebook Page in 2024 (An Easy Guide) appeared first on IQhashtags - Instagram hashtag search tool.