Have you ever used a hashtag on an Instagram post and then realized that it didn’t work and your post did not appear on the page for that hashtag? If so, you’re not alone.
There are banned hashtags on Instagram, the use of which has been flagged by the platform. Usually hashtags are banned for inappropriate use, or for use that somehow violates Instagram’s Community Guidelines.
Some believe that using these banned hashtags can result in the Instagram shadowban, while others discount the shadowban entirely. Regardless, some hashtag usage is undeniably blocked on Instagram. Check out the full list of banned hashtags.
Instagram Hashtags Not Working
If you’ve used or searched for a hashtag and found that there are no recent posts, it’s likely that that hashtag has been banned. It’s important to remember that some hashtags may be banned forever, while some may only be temporarily blocked.
There are a few concrete reasons that we know hashtags have been banned for. Here are some of the known reasons for banned hashtags:
- Posts involving hate speech or threats.
- Posts that involve hate groups, terrorist groups, or organized crime.
- Posts containing nudity.
- Copyright infringement (stolen posts which you have no right to share).
- Posts which glorify self-harm.
- Posts that contain graphic images or violence without warning.
- Posts advertising the sale of sexual services, firearms, or illegal drugs.
- Spam posts making repetitive contact with others.
You can tell if a hashtag is not working or banned by searching for the hashtag and looking for recent posts. Temporarily banned hashtags will have the following message:
Temporarily banned hashtags may, at some point, work again. You can still view the page for these hashtags and the top posts. Recent posts will not be shown, however, defeating the point of using the hashtag.
Permanently banned hashtags won’t show up at all when you search for them. If they do appear, some of the more serious and harmful ones may show this message:
Instagram Shadowban
Using banned hashtags can result in an Instagram shadowban, many believe. Essentially, your account will be blocked so that it won’t appear on any hashtag pages so that no one but your followers can see your posts. Using a banned hashtag can also result in none of your hashtags working, even if the others are not banned.
Learn more about the shadowban here, and search any new hashtags before using them to ensure that they are not banned.
List of Banned Instagram Hashtags
- #Alone
- #ArmParty
- #BeautyBlogger
- #BikiniBody
- #Boho
- #Brain
- #Costumes
- #CurvyGirls
- #Date
- #Dating
- #Desk
- #Direct
- #DM
- #Easter
- #EDM
- #Eggplant*
- #EggplantParm
- #Elevator
- #FitnessGirls
- #Gloves
- #GrafittiIGers
- #HardWorkPaysOff
- #HappyThanksgiving
- #Hawks
- #HotWeather
- #HumpDay
- #Hustler
- #IG*
- #ILoveMyInstagram*
- #InstaBaby
- #InstaSport
- #iPhonegraphy
- #Italiano
- #Kansas
- #Kickoff
- #KillingIt
- #Kissing
- #Leaves
- #Like*
- #Lean*
- #LoseWeight*
- #Lulu
- #Master
- #MileyCyrus
- #MirrorPhoto
- #Models
- #MustFollow
- #Nasty
- #NewYears
- #NewYearsDay
- #Overnight
- #Parties
- #Petite
- #PornFood
- #PrettyGirl
- #PushUps
- #PuppyDogMondays*
- #Rate
- #Ravens
- #SameLove
- #Saltwater
- #Shit
- #Shower
- #Single
- #SingleLife
- #Skateboarding
- #Skype
- #Snap
- #Snapchat
- #Snowstorm
- #SoPretty
- #Stranger
- #StreetPhoto
- #Sunbathing
- #Swole
- #Tag4Like
- #TanLines
- #Teens
- #Thighs*
- #Thought
- #TodayImWearing
- #Undies
- #ValentinesDay
- #WorkFlow
- #WTF*
Hashtags with the * have been permanently banned, while others are only temporarily banned.
This list includes known banned hashtags, but there are surely more – it’s impossible to check every possible hashtag.
Any hashtag that seems inappropriate, especially those that overtly sexual, is probably banned. We chose not to list those especially inappropriate hashtags, instead listing the ones that seem innocent enough and that you may unknowingly use.
Research hashtags before you use them to ensure that they aren’t also banned.