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As a frequent Instagram user, I don’t hesitate hitting the Block button to safeguard my experience on the app. But upon viewing my blocked list recently, I noticed something strange and decided to look into it. Here’s what I discovered about Instagram’s handling of blocked accounts.
Does Instagram Have a Block Limit?
The short answer is no, there’s no limit to the number of accounts you can block on Instagram. However, it might not seem that way when you view your blocked list.
If you’ve been on Instagram for years and use the block feature as liberally as I do, you’ve probably blocked hundreds of accounts by now. But when opening your blocked list in the settings, you’ll likely see the same thing as me: a stagnant count of 200 blocked accounts that doesn’t go up with new blocks.
As perthis Reddit thread, some users report a different number, but the core issue is the same: there seems to be a cap on the number of blocked accounts you can view in the settings.
Initially, I thought it was a limit and that Instagram automatically unblocked my older blocked accounts. But when searching for those accounts, like Lady Gaga shown above, I couldn’t find them, indicating that they were still blocked.
To confirm, I unblocked an account from my list of 200 visible accounts, and it brought back an older blocked account at the very end of the list. Not only is this strange, but it’s also impractical if you ever want tounblock an older blocked account—you won’t be able to find it in your blocked list, and the name won’t appear in the search feature.
Why Can’t You See Your Full Block List on Instagram?
At the time of writing, there’s nothing inInstagram’s blocking policythat explains why this happens. But I have a few theories…
1. It Could Be a Bug
Regular maintenance by developers is essential to keep software bug-free. Perhaps I was simply using an outdated version of the app, but updating it did not fix the issue for me.
Considering how long users have been unable to view their full blocked lists, surely Instagram would have fixed it by now if it really was a bug. So I’m going to assume it’s intentional.
2. Encouraging Positive Interaction
Long-time Instagram users might recall the feature that let all your friends see whenever you liked a post. Instagram removed this feature ages ago due to privacy concerns, which I think was a good call—it’s hard to have a good user experience when your every move is visible.
This shows that the app sometimes prioritizes positive user experience in the updates, which might be the case for limiting the visibility of our blocked accounts. It might be a way to subtly encourage users to reconsider extensive blocking and insteadfoster a more positive interaction environment.
3. Performance Management
Displaying a long list of blocked accounts could slow down the app, especially on devices with limited resources. The cap could be a way to help maintain smooth performance of the app. I actually decided to put this to the test and signed into my account on a desktop browser.
And what do you know, I could see my full blocked list. It’s very likely that the blocked list issue is some type of database management strategy to reduce the load on mobile phones.
4. Prioritizing User Safety
Theblocking and restricting featuresare the first to come to mind when I think about my safety on social media, so it seems counterintuitive to limit their function. But social media apps have their reasons for doing things a certain way.
There is potential for abusing the blocking feature. For example, it’s entirely possible to leave someone an unsavory comment or DM, block them before they can respond, and unblock them to do it again. Some users might also unwarrantedly block people for calling out inappropriate posts or comments, and go on to harass them in the future.
If such a user has limited access to their blocked list, it could mitigate these potential safety risks.
5. Preventing Users From Gaming the Algorithm
As perthis Instagram blog post, there are “a variety of algorithms, classifiers, and processes, each with its own purpose.” We can’t know for certain how these processes work, but we can speculate.
Constantly blocking and unblocking could disrupt Instagram’s tracking of interactions, potentially giving the user an advantage in manipulating how their content is promoted.
For example, blocking certain accounts could create an illusion of exclusivity, while unblocking and allowing them to follow again could give the illusion of a controlled increase in follower count. Blocking and unblocking might also affect engagement metrics such as likes and comments, so a user might try to spam-block (and unblock) in attempt to reset engagement and spur new interactions.
For all we know, the blocking list cap might simply be Instagram’s way of maintaining the app’s aesthetic, keeping the interface clean and uncluttered. Whatever the reason, many users aren’t fans, and personally I would like to see Instagram remove this limit in a future update.
