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How to report a profile on instagram


How to Report on Instagram for Posts, Profiles, or Comments

  • You can easily report a post, profile, or comment on Instagram's mobile app.
  • To report a post directly from your feed on your mobile device, tap the "..." symbol in the upper right corner of the post and then select the reason you are flagging it. 
  • Depending on why you report the post, you may be asked for additional information about the content to help Instagram deem whether it is spam or inappropriate.
  • This story is part of Business Insider's Guide to Instagram.

While most of the posts that cross your Instagram feed won't violate the platform's Community Guidelines or Terms of Use, it sometimes happens. If another user is posting something inappropriate or that might be considered spam on Instagram, you can report the post, comment, person, or account right on the app.

If you don't have an Instagram account, you can report most issues using this form. If an inappropriate or spam comment has been left on one of your posts, you can delete it by swiping left on iOS or pressing down on the reply for Android. 

If you think something on Instagram should be flagged for removal, here's how you report posts, profiles, and comments as inappropriate or spam. 

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How to report a post on Instagram

1. To report something as spam or inappropriate, tap the three-dotted symbol located at the top right of every Instagram post in your feed. For Story posts, you can find it at the bottom right. 

On Android, the dotted symbol is vertical, and for iOS users, it's horizontal. Abigail Abesamis/Business Insider

2. Tap Report.

A menu will appear with the option to report the post in red. Abigail Abesamis/Business Insider

3. Select the reason why you're reporting the post. Your first two options are "It's spam" and "It's inappropriate." 

These two options are the first of several steps in reporting a post. Abigail Abesamis/Business Insider

4. You may be prompted to provide additional details about why you're reporting the post. 

Issues you can flag a comment for include nudity,  hate speech, violence, and more. Abigail Abesamis/Business Insider

5. Instagram confirms it has received your report. 

If this screen doesn't appear, your report was not successfully sent. Abigail Abesamis/Business Insider

How to report a profile on Instagram

1. On the app, go to the user's profile and tap the three dots located on the top right of the screen next to their name. On the browser, the three dots will be located near the username, directly to the right of the "Message" and "Follow" buttons. 

A user's profile on the app and browser have slightly different layouts, but the button to report is the same. Abigail Abesamis/Business Insider

2. Tap "Report" on the app and "Report User" in the browser. 

A menu will appear that offers several options for reporting the profile similar to how you reported the post. Abigail Abesamis/Business Insider

3. Once again, select the reason why you're reporting the profile. 

4. A "Thank You" message for your report will appear once you've finished. 

How to report a comment on Instagram

1. Tap the speech bubble icon or "View comments" to see all the visible replies on an Instagram post.

The comment icon is nestled between the "Like" and "Share" buttons. Abigail Abesamis/Business Insider

2. Scroll to the comment you want to report and swipe left on for iOS users, or tap and hold the comment on an Android.

3. An icon of an exclamation point will appear. Tap it. 

Make sure not to double-tap the comment as that will like it. Abigail Abesamis/Business Insider

4. Select "Report this comment." 

This option will appear in a menu on the bottom of your screen. Abigail Abesamis/Business Insider

5. Choose the reason why you're reporting the comment before providing additional detail on why.

 

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Abigail Abesamis Demarest

Abigail Abesamis Demarest is a contributing writer for Insider based in New York. She loves a good glazed donut and nerdy deep dives into the science of food and how it's made.  

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Instagram Help Center

If someone created an Instagram account that's pretending to be you or someone you know, please use this form to file a report.

Which of the following best describes your situation?

Someone created an account for my business or organization

Someone created an account pretending to be me or a friend

Someone created an account pretending to be someone I represent (ex: my child)

I can't log into my old account

If you believe your intellectual property rights are being infringed by this account, learn how to file a report.

Is this account impersonating you?

Yes, I am the person being impersonated

No, this account is impersonating my friend

Your full name:

Your email address:

Your relationship to the person being impersonated

For example: yourself, authorized representative, your child

The full name of the person being impersonated:

The Instagram username of the person being impersonated (if applicable):

The full name listed on the account that you're reporting

You can find this next to the profile picture on the account

Instagram username of reported account:

Please only report one impersonating account at a time. To report another account, please submit another report.

If you're representing someone else who is being impersonated, have that person take a photo of themselves holding an accepted ID, ensuring that their face and the photo ID are clearly visible.

Please attach a clear photo of the person holding an accepted ID. Make sure both the person's face and the photo in the ID are clearly visible.

If possible, please save this file as a JPEG. If you're having trouble uploading the photo from a mobile device, please try submitting this form from a computer.

Note: We won't be able to process your request unless you submit an ID that meets our requirements.

Please attach a clear photo of yourself holding an accepted ID. Make sure both your face and the photo in the ID are clearly visible.

If possible, please save this file as a JPEG. If you're having trouble uploading a photo of yourself holding your ID from a mobile device, please try submitting this form from a computer.

Note: We won't be able to process your request unless you submit an ID that meets our requirements.

Upload a photo with your ID

A photo of yourself holding your ID or a photo of the person you're authorized to represent holding their ID. If possible, please save this file as a JPEG.

Note: If you're having trouble uploading files from your phone, please visit the Instagram Help Center and complete this form from a computer.

We can only act on reports from the person who's being impersonated or their authorized representative (ex: parent, legal guardian). Please ask the person being impersonated or their representative to file a report.

If you're not able to reset your password using your email address, phone number or Facebook account, you may be able to get additional help through the app:

  1. Open the Instagram app on your mobile device
  2. On the login screen, tap Get help signing in below Log In

  3. For more options:

    • On Android:

      1. Tap Use Username or Email, then enter your username or email
      2. Tap in the top right
      3. Tap Need more help? then follow the on-screen instructions

    • On iOS:

      1. Enter your username or email
      2. Tap Need more help? below Send Login Link, then follow the on-screen instructions

Additional info

what is it, how to write, cancel and wind up complaints on Instagram

A complaint on Instagram is a method recommended by the social network itself to report a violation.

You can complain about specific content or the entire profile.

  • spam,
  • nudity or sexual activity,
  • hate speech or symbols,
  • racist language or activity,
  • violence or dangerous organizations,
  • bullying and harassment,
  • sale of illegal or regulated goods,
  • violation of intellectual property rights,
  • suicide or self-mutilation.

The reason for sending a complaint about the profile can be:

  • posting inappropriate publications by this account,
  • if the user impersonates another person,
  • if the page owner is under the age of 13.

All complaints on Instagram are anonymous, with the exception of complaints about infringement of intellectual property rights.

If the review of the complaint reveals that the content is indeed prohibited, then it will be hidden or removed.

How to file a complaint?

The algorithm for sending a complaint depends on what exactly you are dissatisfied with. Let's look at the most common objects of complaints and algorithms of actions depending on the situation.

How to report a post

To report a photo, video, story or reels, follow these steps:

  1. open the post,
  2. click on the “Three dots” icon, then “Report”:
  1. after that you need select a reason (see screenshot):
  1. done: complaint sent.

How to report a comment or message

To report an offensive message or comment, follow the steps below:

  1. open a conversation or a comment in the app,
  2. press and hold it,
  3. select the “Report” button:
  1. indicate the reason and click “Send a complaint”.

How to report a live broadcast

You can report a live broadcast if you think it shows self-harm, suicide, physical abuse, bullying or stalking, exposing children to danger, threats:

  1. open the broadcast,
  2. click on the “Three dots” next to the “Comment” field,
  3. select the “Report” button:
  1. indicate the reason.

Report a user account

Complain about a profile as follows:

  1. click on the username,
  2. select “Three dots”,
  3. then “Report”,
  4. then “Report account”
      1. specify reason:

      How to report a product

      You can file a complaint about a seller or product that you think violates the rules. Complaining about a seller is done in the same way as complaining about a profile (see above).

      To complain about a product:

      1. go to the product page,
      2. click on the “Three dots” icon,
      3. select “Report product”, indicating the reason:

      Complaint about intellectual property

      Separate complaint procedure on infringement of intellectual property rights. Its peculiarity is that this statement is not anonymous. The object of the complaint will receive an alert with your details.

      There are three ways to submit a complaint of this kind: via the Instagram online form, using the Brand Rights Protection tool, or directly to an authorized specialist.

      The first option is the easiest:

      1. Follow the link to form,
      2. Indicate your connection with the copyright holder:
      1. Enter all contact information:
      1. Describe the content of copyright:
        908
      1. Sprinkle the application :
      1. click Submit.

      Even if you don't have an Instagram account, you can still report content or a profile. To do this, you need to fill out a special form. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

      1. follow the link,
      2. fill in all the fields (see screenshots):
      1. click “Submit”.

      Where can I see the status of the complaint?

      The status of your complaint on Instagram can only be viewed from the mobile application:

      1. go to your profile,
      2. click on “Three Stripes”,
      3. then “Settings”,
      4. select “Help”,
      5. click on “Support Requests” and then “Complaints”.

      By clicking on a specific complaint, you can find out what decision was made on it and the date the decision was made. If Instagram does not remove the content, you can request a re-verification. If, after this check, the decision remains the same, the social network recommends contacting the Independent Supervisory Board.

      How to cancel a complaint?

      The Community Guidelines are clear on what to do if you want to withdraw your IPR complaint. In this case, you need to write a letter to the email address [email protected] indicating the number of the original complaint. Upon receipt of such notification, the content will be restored.

      How many complaints does it take to block an account?

      The number of complaints warranting account blocking is not specified anywhere. Instagram's official rules only state that "the number of complaints does not affect our decision to remove content from Instagram." They also state that “we may permanently delete accounts that regularly violate our Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. ”

      Thus, regular violations can become the basis for deleting an account, which Instagram can find out about “with the help” of regular complaints.

      Cheat complaints

      Special services for cheating complaints recommend very specific figures. They note that social network algorithms automatically remove content if it receives a lot of complaints. At the same time, its real content in this case is unimportant.

      To block an entire profile, such services are advised to wind up complaints in the ratio of 30-70% of the number of page followers.

      If we are talking about cheating complaints to remove photos or videos, the numbers are as follows: 40-70% of the number of likes. If the goal is to delete stories, it is recommended to cheat complaints in the amount of 40-70% of the number of views.

      🤔 These calculations can only be verified empirically. But we do not recommend doing this, as this is a clear violation of the social network policy.

      How to appeal the blocking?

      You can try to unblock your account by filling out and submitting the online form:

      1. follow the link,
      2. mark “no” if you are an individual, or “yes” if you represent a company,
      3. fill in the fields with information (for a private user - see the first screenshot, for a company - the second):
      1. press “Submit”.

      If sending this form is not enough, you need to fill out a second, more complete one (see screenshot):

      When sending a complaint about someone's content or profile, do not forget that this tool was created by Instagram to improve the social network, protect the virtual space from really harmful, dangerous, unacceptable publications.

      How to report a photo or account to Instagram

      If a user posts inappropriate content or spam, you can report a photo or account to Instagram.

      Violators will be sanctioned (the post will disappear and the account will be blocked).

      How to complain to Instagram about a photo

      1. In the upper right corner of the publication, touch .
      2. Touching "Complain".
      3. Choose a reason for complaining about the publication:
      • Spam — if the publication contains promotional material;
      • Inappropriate content - if the post contains material prohibited by Instagram.

      How long will it take to process a complaint on Instagram?

      If a post does contain inappropriate content or spam, it will be removed as soon as possible.

      Or will be marked "Potentially inappropriate content on Instagram".

      There is no exact time, as an automated algorithm works.

      If your profile has been hacked or you cannot send a complaint, you can write to Instagram technical support (see the article).

      How to cancel a complaint on Instagram?

      Unfortunately, at the moment it will not be possible to cancel the complaint (withdraw).

      Can I complain to Instagram about any post?

      Yes. You can complain about photos, videos and stories. The above instructions are suitable for photos and videos.

      To report a story, open it and touch 9 in the lower right corner0003

      , hereinafter "Complain".

      If you wish, you can block a user on Instagram so that they can no longer see your profile (see article).

      How to complain about a comment on Instagram?

      Touch the comment and in the upper right corner click on the icon

      .

      Select the reason for the complaint and send it.

      Promote an Instagram account

      How to report a page on Instagram?

      Just as easy. Just below the instructions.

      How to complain to Instagram about the account

      1. Go to the user profile.
      2. Touch in the upper right corner.
      3. Touching "Complain".
      4. Select the reason for the complaint about the profile:
      • Spam — if the profile was created exclusively for sending advertising material;
      • Inappropriate content - if a user posts posts that violate the Instagram Community Guidelines;
      • Article in English - How do I report a post or profile on Instagram.

      How to report scammers on Instagram?

      Follow the link and fill out the form.

      How many complaints does it take to block a user's Instagram?

      One is enough if the reasons are really serious for blocking.

      If someone impersonates me or publishes my photos without permission, what should I do?

      This is a copyright infringement. You can write a complaint.

      How do I complain about copyright infringement on Instagram?

      Follow the link and send a complaint.

      Learn more