Instagram has become an indispensable social media platform for staying connected with friends, finding inspiration, and even building a business. With over 2 billion monthly active users worldwide as of 2024 [^1], Instagram‘s influence is undeniable. 71% of US businesses now use Instagram for marketing purposes [^2], and the influencer marketing industry on Instagram is projected to reach $15.2 billion by 2024 [^3].
However, this massive scale comes with a major challenge: content moderation. Instagram strives to foster a safe and positive environment by enforcing community guidelines and removing accounts that violate them. But the process isn‘t perfect, and many users have found themselves on the wrong end of a deleted account, often without a clear understanding of why.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down why Instagram deletes accounts, what to do if it happens to you, and how you can protect your account from being removed in the future.
Why Does Instagram Delete Accounts?
There are two primary reasons Instagram may delete an account:
- The account violated Instagram‘s Community Guidelines or Terms of Use
- The account was removed by mistake
Some of the most common types of violations that can lead to deletion include:
- Posting content that is illegal, copyrighted, pornographic, hateful, or related to self-harm
- Using bots or unauthorized third-party apps to artificially inflate engagement
- Having the account compromised by hackers and used for spamming or scamming
- Receiving an excessive number of reports from other users (known as brigading)
While these deletions are meant to keep the platform safe and authentic, mistakes can and do happen. With the massive volume of content posted every day, Instagram relies heavily on automated systems and AI to flag potential violations. These systems aren‘t perfect and can sometimes misidentify content or accounts as breaking the rules.
Human error by content moderators is also possible, as is getting caught up in mass reporting campaigns driven by bad actors seeking to silence certain voices or communities. Instagram has faced criticism in the past for wrongly removing content related to social movements, leading to accusations of censorship [^4].
Losing an Instagram account is a painful experience, regardless of the reason. 46% of people say they would lose contact with someone if that person‘s account disappeared [^5]. For creators and businesses that rely on Instagram for their livelihoods, a deleted account can be devastating in terms of lost brand deals and revenue stream.
What to Do If Your Instagram Account is Deleted
If you believe your account was deleted by mistake, you can appeal the decision through Instagram‘s official process. Here‘s what to do:
Check your email inbox for a message from Instagram. The company typically notifies users of account deletions and the specific policy violation via email.
Go to Instagram‘s Help Center and fill out the form titled "My Instagram account has been deactivated."
Provide your account information, including username and the email address or phone number associated with the account.
If your account represented a business, you‘ll need to upload an official document showing your company name and address, such as a utility bill or tax filing.
In the "Additional Information" field, explain that you believe your account was deleted by mistake and state your case for why your content did not violate any Instagram guidelines.
Submit the form and wait for a response. Instagram‘s review team will look into your appeal and determine whether the deletion was indeed a mistake.
If your appeal is successful, Instagram will restore your account and you‘ll regain access to your profile, content, and followers. However, if Instagram upholds the original decision, you likely won‘t be able to get the account back. At that point, your only option is to start fresh with a brand new account, being extra careful not to run afoul of the platform‘s rules in the future.
It‘s worth noting that Instagram has faced criticism over the lack of transparency in its deletion notifications and appeal denials. Users often feel frustrated that they aren‘t given clear explanations of what specific content violated which rule. In a 2022 Transparency Report, Instagram disclosed that it took action on over 32 million pieces of content, but only 4.3% were appealed and 44.4% of those appeals were successful [^6].
Steps to Safeguard Your Instagram Account
While you can‘t control whether Instagram makes a mistake or if trolls attempt to brigade your account, you can take proactive measures to minimize the risk of a wrongful deletion:
Thoroughly read and follow Instagram‘s Community Guidelines and Terms of Use. Pay close attention to the rules around copyrighted material, hate speech, nudity, misinformation, and restricted goods/services.
Secure your login credentials. Choose a strong, unique password and enable two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access to your account. Consider using a password manager app for an extra layer of security.
Only use Instagram-approved third-party apps and avoid engagement automation. Stick to well-known social media management platforms like Hootsuite or Sprout Social. Never buy fake followers, likes, or comments.
Regularly back up your Instagram content. Use Instagram‘s Download Your Data tool or a third-party service to export copies of your photos, videos, and other account information. Don‘t let Instagram be the only place this precious content exists.
Consider applying for a verified badge if you qualify. Verified accounts are less likely to be deleted by mistake and often receive additional support from Instagram.
By staying within the rules and taking steps to secure your account, you‘ll be in a much better position to avoid an unexpected deletion. However, it‘s still wise to have a plan in place for retrieving or rebuilding your account, just in case.
How Instagram is Working to Improve
Instagram acknowledges the challenges and frustrations around account deletions and has taken steps in recent years to improve the process:
- Updating account deactivation notices to include more specific information about which policy was violated
- Expanding the appeals process and growing its investigations team to review deletion decisions
- Improving detection systems to better differentiate between intentional vs. accidental violations
- Rolling out stronger age verification tools and safety features to protect younger users
While not every frustrating experience can be avoided with a platform this massive, Instagram appears committed to refining its approach to content moderation and account removals. With any luck, continued investment and iteration in these systems will lead to fewer mistaken deletions and more fair outcomes for users.
The Future of Social Media Moderation
The challenges Instagram faces with account deletions are emblematic of a larger debate happening around content moderation in the social media industry. As lawmakers, advocacy groups, and the general public pay more attention to the real-world impacts of online content, the pressure is on for companies like Instagram and its parent Meta to crack down on violating posts and accounts.
However, this push for stricter, swifter enforcement inevitably results in more false positives and frustrated users. Perfecting moderation at this scale is, in many ways, an impossible task. But Instagram and its peers must keep working at it to maintain the trust of their communities and business partners.
We can expect to see continued investment in human review teams, advancements in machine learning to improve automated systems, and more robust user education around guidelines and appeal processes. But it will take collaboration between the platforms, policymakers, and the public to strike the right balance between safety and open expression online.
Key Takeaways for Instagram Users
To recap, here are the key things every Instagram user should know about account deletions:
- Accounts are deleted for violating community standards or by mistake
- If you believe your account was wrongly deleted, you can appeal through Instagram‘s Help Center
- To avoid deletion, follow the guidelines, secure your account, and don‘t use unauthorized third-party apps
- Regularly back up your Instagram content to prepare for the worst-case scenario
- If you run a business or are a public figure on Instagram, consider applying for a verified badge
By understanding the risks and being proactive about account security, you‘ll be better equipped to handle a deleted account crisis, should one arise. Stay safe out there!
[^1]: Statista (2024). Instagram monthly active users worldwide 2019-2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/253577/number-of-monthly-active-instagram-users/[^2]: eMarketer (2022). US Instagram Users, 2021-2025. https://www.emarketer.com/chart/253153/us-instagram-users-2021-2025-billions
[^3]: Statista (2022). Instagram influencer marketing spending worldwide 2018-2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1092819/global-instagram-influencer-marketing-spending/
[^4]: The Verge (2020). Why activists are furious about Facebook‘s changes to hate speech policies. https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/10/22167083/facebook-hate-speech-policy-changes-antitrust-activism-employees-outrage
[^5]: GWI (2022). Social media trends to watch in 2022. https://www.gwi.com/reports/social-trends-2022
[^6]: Instagram Transparency Center (2022). Community Standards Enforcement Report, Third Quarter 2022. https://transparency.fb.com/data/community-standards-enforcement/instagram-enforcement-information/2022-09-27/
