How to Block Someone Who Blocked You on Instagram: A Comprehensive Guide
Being blocked on Instagram can be frustrating, especially when you feel the need to reciprocate. Unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t directly allow you to block someone who has already blocked you. This is a built-in feature designed to prevent harassment and unwanted interactions. However, there are several workarounds and strategies you can employ to achieve a similar outcome. This comprehensive guide will walk you through various methods to effectively limit or eliminate contact with someone who has blocked you on Instagram.
## Understanding the Dynamics of Blocking on Instagram
Before diving into the methods, it’s essential to understand how blocking works on Instagram:
* **Mutual Blocking Prevention:** Instagram’s design intentionally prevents a scenario where two users perpetually block and unblock each other. Once you’re blocked, you lose the direct ability to interact with the blocker’s profile.
* **Profile Visibility:** When someone blocks you, their profile disappears from your search results, and you can’t view their posts, stories, or followers/following lists. Visiting their profile through a direct link will display a message indicating you are blocked.
* **Direct Messages (DMs):** Past DM conversations remain in your inbox, but you cannot send new messages to the person who blocked you. They also can’t send you messages.
* **Tags and Mentions:** You cannot tag or mention the person who blocked you, and they cannot tag or mention you.
* **Comments and Likes:** You cannot see or interact with their comments or likes on mutual friends’ posts, and vice versa.
## Why You Might Want to “Block” Someone Who Has Blocked You
While the other person has already cut off direct contact, you might still want to take further action for several reasons:
* **Complete Removal:** You might want to remove all traces of the person from your Instagram experience, including past conversations.
* **Preventing Accidental Interaction:** Even though direct interaction is blocked, there’s a slim chance of accidental interaction through mutual friends’ posts or tagged photos. Implementing further restrictions minimizes this.
* **Peace of Mind:** Taking proactive steps can provide a sense of control and closure, reducing anxiety associated with the situation.
* **Limiting Information Sharing:** You might not want the person who blocked you to see any information about you through mutual connections, even if they can’t directly access your profile.
## Methods to Effectively Limit Contact with Someone Who Blocked You
Here’s a breakdown of different methods you can use to minimize or eliminate contact with someone who has blocked you on Instagram:
### 1. Removing the Conversation (If Applicable)
If you had a direct message conversation with the person who blocked you, you can remove it from your inbox. This won’t unblock you, but it will clean up your DM list.
**Steps:**
1. **Open Instagram:** Launch the Instagram app on your mobile device.
2. **Go to Direct Messages:** Tap the paper airplane icon in the top right corner of your screen to access your DMs.
3. **Locate the Conversation:** Find the conversation with the person who blocked you. It will likely appear grayed out or with a note indicating they are no longer available.
4. **Swipe to Delete (iOS) or Long Press (Android):**
* **iOS:** Swipe left on the conversation.
* **Android:** Tap and hold the conversation.
5. **Tap Delete:** A delete option will appear. Tap it to remove the conversation.
6. **Confirm Deletion:** You’ll be prompted to confirm the deletion. Tap “Delete” again.
**Note:** This action only removes the conversation from *your* inbox. It does not delete the conversation from the other person’s inbox (if they haven’t already deleted it).
### 2. Restricting Their Account (Indirectly)
While you can’t directly restrict someone who blocked you, you can restrict any *new* accounts they might create. Restricting an account limits their interactions with you.
**Understanding Restriction:**
* **Comments:** Comments from restricted accounts are only visible to that person and you. You can choose to approve them to make them public or delete them.
* **Direct Messages:** Messages from restricted accounts go to your message requests instead of your main inbox. You won’t receive notifications for these messages.
* **Online Status:** Restricted accounts won’t be able to see when you’re online or if you’ve read their messages.
**Why this is helpful:** If the person who blocked you creates a new account to try and circumvent the block, restricting that account will give you more control over their interactions.
**Steps to Restrict a New Account (If They Create One):**
1. **Wait for a New Account:** You’ll need to be aware if the person creates a new account. This might involve a mutual friend telling you, or seeing a new account interacting with your content that you suspect is them.
2. **Find the New Account:** Search for the potential new account on Instagram.
3. **Go to Their Profile:** Tap on their profile to view it.
4. **Tap the Three Dots:** Tap the three dots (ellipsis) in the top right corner of their profile.
5. **Select “Restrict”:** Choose the “Restrict” option from the menu.
6. **Confirm Restriction:** Instagram will explain what restricting does. Tap “Restrict Account” to confirm.
### 3. Blocking Any *New* Accounts They Create
This is a more direct approach than restricting. If you suspect the person who blocked you has created a new account, you can block that new account.
**Steps:**
1. **Identify the New Account:** As with restricting, you need to identify a new account that you believe belongs to the person who blocked you.
2. **Go to Their Profile:** Tap on their profile to view it.
3. **Tap the Three Dots:** Tap the three dots (ellipsis) in the top right corner of their profile.
4. **Select “Block”:** Choose the “Block” option from the menu.
5. **Choose Blocking Options:** Instagram will give you two options:
* **Block [Username]:** This only blocks the current account.
* **Block [Username] and any new accounts they may create:** This is the option you want to choose. It attempts to block any future accounts Instagram identifies as being created by the same person. **Important Note:** This is *not* foolproof. It relies on Instagram’s algorithms to detect the connection.
6. **Confirm Blocking:** Tap “Block” to confirm your choice.
**Important Considerations:**
* **Accuracy is Key:** Be sure you’re blocking the correct account. Blocking the wrong person can have unintended consequences.
* **Instagram’s Algorithm:** Instagram’s ability to identify and block new accounts created by the same person is not perfect. The person might be able to circumvent the block by using a different email address, phone number, or device.
### 4. Adjusting Your Privacy Settings
Even if you can’t directly block the person who blocked you, you can adjust your privacy settings to limit what they (and others) can see about you, even through mutual connections.
**a) Making Your Account Private:**
This is the most effective way to control who sees your content. When your account is private, only approved followers can see your posts, stories, and profile information.
**Steps:**
1. **Go to Your Profile:** Tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner of the screen.
2. **Tap the Hamburger Menu:** Tap the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right corner.
3. **Select “Settings and privacy”:** Tap on settings and privacy from the options.
4. **Select “Account Privacy”:** Scroll down and find the “Account privacy” option and tap on it.
5. **Toggle “Private Account”:** Turn the “Private Account” switch on. A confirmation message will appear. Tap “Switch to Private.”
**Implications of a Private Account:**
* **Follower Requests:** You’ll need to approve all follower requests.
* **Existing Followers:** Existing followers will still be able to see your content unless you remove them.
* **Search Visibility:** Your account might still appear in search results, but non-followers won’t be able to see your posts or stories.
**b) Removing Followers:**
If the person who blocked you is following you through another account (or if you suspect they might be using a mutual friend’s account to view your content), you can remove them as a follower.
**Steps:**
1. **Go to Your Profile:** Tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner of the screen.
2. **Tap “Followers”:** Tap on the “Followers” list.
3. **Find the Account:** Scroll through your followers or use the search bar to find the account you want to remove.
4. **Tap “Remove”:** Next to the account name, tap the “Remove” button. The button may look like “Remove”, or “…” followed by “Remove.”
5. **Confirm Removal:** A confirmation message will appear. Tap “Remove” to confirm.
**c) Limiting Story Visibility:**
You can choose to hide your Instagram stories from specific people, even if they are following you.
**Steps:**
1. **Go to Your Profile:** Tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner of the screen.
2. **Tap the Hamburger Menu:** Tap the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right corner.
3. **Select “Settings and privacy”:** Tap on settings and privacy from the options.
4. **Select “Hide story and live”:** Scroll down and find the “Hide story and live” option under “Who can see your content” and tap on it.
5. **Select people to hide from:** Here you can search for and select the people who blocked you from seeing your stories and lives.
**d) Managing Tagging and Mentions:**
You can control who can tag you in photos and videos or mention you in captions and comments.
**Steps:**
1. **Go to Your Profile:** Tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner of the screen.
2. **Tap the Hamburger Menu:** Tap the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right corner.
3. **Select “Settings and privacy”:** Tap on settings and privacy from the options.
4. **Select “Tags and mentions”:** Scroll down and tap the “Tags and mentions” option.
5. **Choose Tagging Options:**
* **Allow Tags From:** Choose who can tag you: “Everyone,” “People you follow,” or “No one.”
* **Manually Approve Tags:** Turn on “Approve tags manually” to review and approve tags before they appear on your profile.
6. **Choose Mentions Options:**
* **Allow Mentions From:** Choose who can mention you: “Everyone,” “People you follow,” or “No one.”
### 5. Using Third-Party Blocking Apps (Use with Caution)
Some third-party apps claim to offer more advanced blocking features, including the ability to block someone who has blocked you. However, using these apps carries risks:
* **Security Risks:** Granting third-party apps access to your Instagram account can compromise your privacy and security. These apps might collect your data or even be malicious.
* **Violation of Instagram’s Terms of Service:** Using unauthorized third-party apps can violate Instagram’s terms of service, which could lead to your account being suspended or banned.
* **Effectiveness:** The effectiveness of these apps is often questionable. They might not work as advertised, or they might stop working after Instagram updates its platform.
**Recommendation:** Avoid using third-party blocking apps unless you are absolutely certain of their legitimacy and security. Thoroughly research any app before granting it access to your Instagram account.
### 6. Creating a New Instagram Account
As a last resort, you could create a new Instagram account. This effectively severs all ties with the person who blocked you, as they won’t be able to find your new account unless you choose to reveal it to them.
**Considerations:**
* **Starting Over:** Creating a new account means starting from scratch. You’ll need to rebuild your follower base and re-establish your presence on the platform.
* **Announcing Your New Account:** If you want your existing followers to find you, you’ll need to announce your new account through other channels (e.g., other social media platforms, email).
* **Potential for Circumvention:** The person who blocked you could still find your new account if you make it public and they are determined to do so.
**Steps:**
1. **Log Out of Your Existing Account:** Go to your profile, tap the hamburger menu, select settings and privacy, scroll down and tap “Log out.”
2. **Sign Up with a Different Email or Phone Number:** On the Instagram login screen, tap “Sign up.” Use a different email address or phone number than the one you used for your original account.
3. **Choose a Username:** Select a new username.
4. **Complete Your Profile:** Add a profile picture and bio.
5. **Adjust Privacy Settings:** Set your privacy settings to your preference (private or public).
## Maintaining a Healthy Instagram Experience
Beyond the technical steps of blocking or limiting contact, it’s important to maintain a healthy and positive Instagram experience.
* **Focus on Positive Interactions:** Engage with accounts that bring you joy and inspiration.
* **Curate Your Feed:** Unfollow accounts that make you feel negative or uncomfortable.
* **Take Breaks:** If you find yourself getting caught up in drama or negativity, take a break from Instagram.
* **Prioritize Real-Life Relationships:** Remember that social media is just one aspect of your life. Nurture your relationships with friends and family in the real world.
## Conclusion
While Instagram doesn’t offer a direct way to block someone who has already blocked you, the methods outlined in this guide provide effective workarounds to limit or eliminate contact. By removing conversations, restricting or blocking new accounts, adjusting your privacy settings, and prioritizing your mental well-being, you can regain control of your Instagram experience and create a more positive online environment. Remember to exercise caution when using third-party apps and to prioritize your security and privacy. Ultimately, focusing on positive interactions and cultivating real-life relationships will contribute to a healthier and more fulfilling life, both online and offline.