Recently, Instagram has really cracked down on users, taking a proactive approach to address spammers. Unfortunately, a lot of good accounts have gotten caught up in the mix since their algorithm is extremely strict and often flags normal content as spam.

The idea behind what they have done makes a lot of sense. After all, eliminating spammers and fake users makes the platform much more enjoyable for everyone.

Sadly, however, it is all too easy for people who are just getting started to make a simple mistake that winds up getting their account banned. Even worse, they sometimes don’t tell you what you did wrong, which makes it practically impossible to figure out why the ban occurred in the first place. In a lot of cases, you won’t even get a warning ahead of time.

For the average user, Instagram has become a bit of a dangerous place, with potential problems lurking around every corner. If you do anything wrong, your account can wind up taking a hit.

Don’t worry, though – we’ve got you covered with these tips and also our Instagram recovery service for accounts. The tips below will help you use Instagram like a pro so that you don’t wind up inadvertently getting your account banned.

Avoid Instagram Bans with these Tips

1. After opening a new account, wait a while before you start commenting on or liking posts from other people. Most spammers and fake accounts start out by using this tactic. A much better approach is to post a minimum of 10 photos of your own spread out over the course of about a week. After that, you can start commenting on or liking photos from other users.

Check out our guide on how to get Instagram back.

2. Fill out your profile. Make sure to upload a photo and jot something down in the bio section. Failing to do so could make you a target for the Sentinel bot.

3. Post photos regularly. Most spammers stop posting, which is why it can cause your account to get flagged. Post at least two times a day if you don’t have enough time to add daily posts to your account.

4. Avoid liking too many posts. The absolute maximum allowed is 350 posts each hour. Ideally, however, you should like far fewer than this.

5. Don’t follow a bunch of people at the same time. Again, this mimics what most bots and spammers do. Ideally, you should follow fewer than 20 people each hour. It is also important to remember that you are limited to following 7,500 accounts. Put some thought into choosing which accounts you really want to follow.

6. Avoid posting the same comments on multiple accounts, even if those comments are just emojis. Once Instagram spots this type of activity on your account, it will restrict your ability to post comments.

Known as being Action Blocked, there is no set time for how long this block can last. Some people have their accounts restored within several hours while others have to wait for weeks to be able to access the platform again.

7. Avoid mentioning people that aren’t following your account unless they have first mentioned you. A great example of this is if you have a photo selected as the winner of a competition or challenge. Chances are, a lot of people will be congratulating you. It goes without saying that you would want to say thanks to each one of them. Try to limit this type of activity. Never tag more than one person in each comment. Even though this seems extremely restrictive, the new stricter Instagram rules make it necessary.

One exception to the rule is if you are mentioning your own followers in one of your posts. In that case, you can mention as many as five people per comment.

8. Use caution when following or liking Bot services. Ideally, you should avoid taking advantage of these services at all. There are some situations, however, where bots can be useful. Just be aware that there are a lot of risks associated with this type of behavior. Both Facebook and Instagram have been doing a much better job of discovering activities like these. Just be warned that there could be consequences associated with following these types of accounts.

9. Always follow the guidelines. Carefully read through the community guidelines provided by Instagram, making sure that you understand everything in them. The more closely you follow the rules, the less likely you are to wind up getting your account banned or even shadow banned.

With so many rules to keep track of, it can feel a little bit like you are walking on eggshells every time you use Instagram. Since this is the approach that they have chosen to take, however, it is important to ensure that you are following all of these tips as closely as you can to avoid getting banned.