Why can’t I follow people on Instagram? Why won’t it let me follow someone on Instagram? These are the questions we often hear from those who suddenly find themselves unable to interact with others on the platform.
There’s nothing more frustrating than when Instagram won’t let me follow anyone. The button on the screen flickers from Following back to Follow milliseconds after pressing it – rejecting my input.
If you can’t follow people on Instagram, you naturally want to keep pressing the follow button – in the hope that it will eventually work.
In reality, this is counter-intuitive.
Yes – you need to stop pressing the follow button on Instagram.
When you can’t follow people on Instagram, this typically comes as a result of actions you’ve taken on the platform.
If you’ve done something wrong on the platform, the platform may decide to temporarily restrict certain features. When I can’t follow anyone on Instagram, I’m naturally inclined to keep pressing the button – but this has the potential to only make the restrictions last longer.
In this quick guide, we are going to be answering the following commonly asked questions:
- Why can’t I follow people on Instagram?
- Why won’t it let me follow someone on Instagram?
- Why can’t I follow anyone on Instagram?
- Why won’t Instagram let me follow people?
- Why can’t I follow on Instagram?
If you can’t follow people on Instagram, this is the article for you!
When I can’t follow anyone on Instagram, I usually run through a short checklist of actions to resolve this issue.
Although, more recently, I now know how to avoid being in a situation where I can’t follow on Instagram.
After reading this guide, if you have any further questions about how to avoid getting into a situation where you can’t follow on Instagram, feel free to shoot us a message!
Without wasting any time, let’s dive straight in.
My Instagram won’t let me follow anyone? Don’t panic! If you can’t follow people on Instagram, a few simple steps will help you get back on track.
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Why Can’t I Follow People On Instagram?
Typically, when you are unable to follow people on Instagram, you are simultaneously blocked from performing a wide range of other actions on the platform.
This can prove to be rather frustrating for those who are trying to use the platform.
When I can’t follow anyone on Instagram, I consider whether any of the following apply:
- I might have been following too many accounts too quickly.
- I might have reached the maximum follow limit on Instagram.
- I might have stumbled across a technical problem.
- I might have been using third-party apps to follow accounts.
Using third-party apps or software to follow accounts can be beneficial – as long as they are reputable. There is nothing Instagram’s algorithm hates more than interacting with dodgy third-party code. If it finds that your account has been linked with a spammy third-party application, expect to be penalized.
A single Instagram account cannot follow more than 7,500 other accounts. Upon reaching this quota, it’s a good idea to start unfollowing a few people so you can follow new accounts.
The maximum follow limit on Instagram is estimated to be 500 accounts per day. This only applies to accounts that are more than 30 days old. If you’ve just set up a new account, do not try to follow hundreds of people at once! Instead, start with following a maximum of 50 people per day. This will help to keep you in the algorithm’s good books.
It’s often digital marketers that receive a ban on following people. This is because they have a tendency to try and follow to many people at once – or use Instagram automation tools to do it for them at a considerable speed.
Following too many accounts in a short space of time is one of the easiest ways to get your account restricted.
Instagram doesn’t like it when you follow too many people in a short period of time. They end up mistaking you for being a bot. The platform has put a tremendous amount of effort into removing bots by making changes to its algorithm, limiting the amount of actions you can take inside the platform over a set period of time.
For instance, if you like too many posts in a short period of time, Instagram is likely to temporarily block you from being able to perform this action.
In some cases, you may be blocked from following certain people. In others, you might get blocked from following everyone else on the platform.
If you can’t like, comment, or follow people, this really takes away the enjoyment of the platform.
Why won’t Instagram let me follow people?
When I’m trying to work out why the Instagram follow button is not working, I usually check to see if I can perform other actions on the app, such as liking and commenting on posts.
If the application is blocking you from using these features, it’s a clear indication that they want you to slow down.
Stop pressing the follow button on Instagram so aggressively! They are mistaking you for being a bot. This is why you have been essentially shadow-banned from using the core features of the platform for a set period of time.
My Instagram Won’t Let Me Follow Anyone (What Next?)
When Instagram won’t let me follow someone, I exit the app and wait it out.
With a rise in new Instagram automation tools to help new accounts get followers, the algorithm has been more sophisticated at detecting artificial behavior on the platform.
If your account is performing any activity at a faster-than-usual speed, the algorithm will detect this as being unnatural and penalize you by restricting in-app features. It’s a simple way for the platform to maintain a firm stance against bots and artificial behavior – improving the experience for the rest of the community.
The best thing you can do is stop using the app for a few days. This sounds like an extreme measure but it’s absolutely necessary.
If you continue trying to follow people while you’ve been restricted, this has the potential to prolong the ban. Instagram could even turn this into a permanent suspension depending on the severity of the offenses.
You need to slow down your account activity. There’s nothing wrong with liking, following, and commenting on a daily or even hourly basis. You just need to do it all in moderation. If you are incessantly tapping through the platform, at break-neck speed, you’re asking for trouble.
I Can’t Follow Anyone On Instagram (For How Long?)
How long the restrictions last for will depend on how frequently you had been following people on Instagram. For instance, someone who keeps getting restricted for following too many people at once is likely to face a longer ban than a first-time offender.
Typically, a ban on following people will last for 24-48 hours. If you keen getting banned, this timeframe could be extended to as long as a week. The key is to acknowledge the ban and respect it. The best thing you can do is wait 24 hours before trying to follow someone again.
When you try following someone after 24 hours of coming off the platform, depending on the outcome, you can either proceed with caution or wait a further 24 hours.
Unfortunately, it’s a waiting game.
We know just how frustrating this can be, especially if you are starting to build momentum on the platform.
Take everything in your stride and hold out.
Try to keep count of how many people you are following over a set period of time. This will help to prevent you from accidently following too many people and getting on the wrong side of the social media platform’s algorithm.
Ultimately, it’s a balancing act.
The algorithm wants to see consistent engagement but they don’t want to see too much.
Why Won’t Instagram Let Me Follow People? (Final Thoughts)
We hope this guide has provided you with an answer to this question.
Why can’t I follow people on Instagram? Here’s a quick summary of the main points discussed in this article:
- Avoid following too many accounts in a short space of time.
- Check to see whether you have reached the maximum follow limit.
- Be prepared to leave Instagram for 24-48 hours.
- Stop liking, commenting, and following for 24-48 hours.
- Check to see whether you’ve come across a technical issue.
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