11 Fixes for “We Restrict Certain Activity…” Instagram Error

With over 2.4 billion monthly active users on Instagram, moderating the platform is crucial. Instagram takes numerous measures to keep the platform safe and to ensure a healthy user experience. If you ever find a message on your Instagram saying, “We restrict certain activity to protect our community,” it means something unusual might have happened with your account. 

This guide will explain what this message means and why it pops up. We’ll cover the steps to identify and resolve the issue, some critical points about this error, and understanding Instagram’s rules and limits. This way, you can enjoy using Instagram without any hiccups.

What does the “We restrict certain activity to protect our community” error mean?

When you get the message “We restrict certain activity to protect our community” on Instagram, it means Instagram has noticed something odd with how you’re using your account. If Instagram thinks your actions could bother or hurt others, it sends this message and limits what you can do for a while. You might also get shadow banned or blocked by the platform,

This kind of control is normal on many social media sites, which set rules on what you can share and post and how often you can do these things. Some people try to get around these rules by changing terms or words, but these tricks don’t always succeed.

There are other social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Parler, and Minds where you can post without many restrictions. X is known for letting people speak freely with less monitoring. Parler encourages open speech with minimal oversight. 

These platforms are popular among those who think Instagram’s strict rules are too limiting, as they allow users more liberty in sharing their opinions.

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Why does this error occur?

This error shows up if you’re doing things on Instagram that aren’t allowed, like spamming people or misusing Instagram’s features. Here are some common reasons why it might happen:

1. Violating community guidelines

Instagram has rules called community guidelines to keep the platform safe and positive. If you break these rules by posting things that aren’t allowed or by being mean to others, like liking tons of posts quickly or leaving many comments in no time, Instagram might limit what you can do on your account.

2. Suspicious activity

If Instagram thinks your actions are suspicious or could harm others, like using third-party apps to get more followers or likes unethically, it might put some restrictions on your account to keep everyone safe.

3. Security concerns

If Instagram thinks someone might be trying to hack into your account or use it without your permission, it might limit certain things to protect your account.

4. Glitches and bugs

Sometimes, this error might be because Instagram is having technical problems. These issues might fix themselves after a while or might need some attention from Instagram’s tech team. If you see this error, checking what you’ve been doing on Instagram is an excellent option to ensure you follow the rules.

5. Copyrighted material

Instagram also limits using other people’s work without giving them credit or without getting their permission. This is to ensure the original creators get recognized and rewarded for their work and to stop intellectual property theft.

More things to remember when you see this error

When you encounter this error on Instagram, there are a few key points to remember to understand and navigate the situation better. Here’s what you should remember:

• Duration of the error: The length of time you’ll see this error can change based on what Instagram decides.
• Account functionality during the error: You can still look around on Instagram, but you might not be able to like, comment, or follow as usual.
• Prevention strategies: Always check your posting plan to ensure it fits what Instagram allows.
• Unresolved issues: If telling Instagram about the problem doesn’t fix it, just waiting for the next update from Instagram might clear it up.
• Role of VPNs: If you’re using a VPN, Instagram might limit your account because it sees the VPN as a security concern.

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How to fix the “We restrict certain activity” Instagram error?

We’ve explained the error on Instagram. Now, let’s figure out how to solve this problem.

1. Slow down your interactions

One of the main reasons you might see this error is if you’re doing too much too fast on Instagram, like following or unfollowing lots of people or liking and commenting on lots of posts quickly. 

To fix this, just take it easy with how you interact with posts and stories on Instagram. Only follow or unfollow some accounts at a time, and avoid liking or commenting on posts too rapidly. If you slow down and give it some time, the error should disappear after a while.

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2. Don’t break Instagram’s guidelines

Ensure you know and follow Instagram’s rules, which you can find in their community guidelines and terms of use. Don’t post things that go against these rules, and if you see anyone else posting bad or inappropriate stuff, let Instagram know by reporting them. 

Breaking these rules can lead to Instagram limiting what you can do on the platform, so sticking to the rules helps you avoid getting blocked.

3. Check for suspicious issues

Make sure your Instagram account is safe. Look out for any strange signs, like unknown login attempts or changes to your account that you didn’t make. 

If someone else got into your account, change your password immediately and turn on two-factor authentication for extra protection. Your Instagram might be locked, or some things you try to do might be stopped to keep you and others safe until the problem is fixed.

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4. Complete your Instagram account information

If you’re new to Instagram and running into this problem, you might need to fill out your account details. Instagram might limit what you can do if your profile lacks enough information to prove it’s real. Here’s what you can do:

1. Open the Instagram app and tap on your profile picture at the bottom.
   

   

2. Press the “Edit Profile” button.
   

   

3. Tap on “Personal Information Settings.”
   

   

4. Choose “Contact Info.”
   

   

5. Make sure you add all the essential details.
   

   

5. Show Instagram you are not a bot

You can do a few things to show Instagram you’re a real person and not a not a bot:

• Confirm your phone number or email address.
• Connect your Facebook account to your Instagram.
• Turn on two-factor authentication for extra security.
• Change your password.

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6. Remove links from your bio

If you have links in your bio that Instagram doesn’t allow or thinks are harmful, you might be limited in what you can do on the app. To fix this, remove links that don’t fit Instagram’s rules. Here’s what to do:

1. Open Instagram and tap on the “Profile picture” at the bottom.
   

   

2. On your profile, select the “Edit Profile” button.
   

   

3. Tap on “Links.”
   

   

4. Check the links you’ve added and remove any that could break Instagram’s rules.
   

   

7. Refrain from using third-party apps

Avoid using other apps or services that say they can improve your Instagram. These can go against Instagram’s rules and cause you to face limits. These kinds of apps often don’t follow what Instagram wants and can bother other people using Instagram, which the company doesn’t like.

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8. Clear your Instagram cache

Clearing the cache for the Instagram app can help solve problems by removing old and possibly corrupted data that might be causing issues. Here’s a simple way to clear your Instagram cache:

↪ For Android users:

1. Open your phone’s “Settings” app. Scroll down and tap on “Apps” or “Application Manager” (this might differ depending on your device).
   

   

2. Find and select “Instagram” from the list of apps.
   

   

3. Select “Storage.” 
   

   

4. Then tap “Clear Cache” at the bottom right corner of the screen.
   

   

↪ For iOS users:

For iOS users, Instagram doesn’t allow you to clear the cache from within the settings. Instead, you’ll need to uninstall and reinstall the app to clear the cache, as described in the previous steps for reinstalling the app.

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9. Reinstall the Instagram app

If you’re still having trouble with Instagram, sometimes the simplest solution is to start fresh by reinstalling the app. This can fix hidden issues that might be causing the error. Here’s how you do it:

1. First, delete the Instagram app from your device. On most devices, you can press and hold the app icon and then select the option to “Uninstall” or “Remove app.”
   

   

2. After removing the app, restart your device. This step helps clear any temporary glitches.
   

   

3. Next, go to your device’s app store (Google Play Store for Android or App Store for iOS), search for Instagram in the app store, and download it again.
   

   

4. Once reinstalled, log in to your account and see if the problem has been resolved.
   

   

10.  Stop using any of Instagram’s banned hashtags

To avoid problems on Instagram, ensure you’re not using hashtags that Instagram has banned. Here’s how to check if a hashtag is not allowed:

• Search for the hashtag on Instagram. If you don’t see any posts or if the hashtag doesn’t seem to work, it probably means Instagram has banned it.

If you’ve used a hashtag that’s not allowed, delete it from your posts and comments to prevent any issues. It’s also a good idea to look over your old posts and comments to find and remove any content that might be inappropriate or sensitive.

11.  Contact Instagram support

If you’ve tried everything mentioned before and you still see this error after a couple of days, it might be time to reach out to Instagram for help. You can contact Instagram support by visiting their help page. They can look into the issue and provide assistance to get your account back to normal.

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Understand Instagram limits

Instagram has rules about how much you can do on the app in a certain amount of time to stop spam and ensure it’s a safe place for everyone. These rules can be different depending on what kind of account you have and might change. Here are some usual limits for what you can do on Instagram:

• Likes: You can like up to 100 posts in an hour and up to 1,000 posts daily.
• Follows and unfollows: You can follow or unfollow up to 60 accounts in an hour and up to 600 accounts in a day.
• Comments: You can comment on up to 120–180 posts daily.
• Direct messages: You can send up to 50 direct messages in an hour and up to 500 direct messages in a day.

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Final Thoughts

Facing the “We restrict certain activity to protect our community” message on Instagram can be a problem, but it’s all about keeping the platform safe and enjoyable for everyone.

By understanding the common reasons behind this message, like going too fast with likes or follows, posting content against the rules, or using banned hashtags, you can take steps to fix the issue. 

Remember to slow down, familiarize yourself with Instagram’s guidelines, check your account for suspicious activity, and keep your account information complete and up-to-date. If you’ve tried everything and still need help, don’t hesitate to contact Instagram support.