Instagram is one of the leading social media platforms where all users have the opportunities to connect, share content, and follow others. However, sometimes users may face frustrated problems that restrict them from following other accounts. This article discusses all the reasons why can’t i follow people on Instagram and also offers solutions so that you can get rid of these problems.
Reached the Follow Limit
Understanding The Follow Limit
One fundamental reason users cannot track new accounts because they have attained Instagram’s follow limit. The service has limits, which help to keep spammy activity at bay and gives a positive user experience. To date, Instagram allows following of up to 7,500 accounts. Once you attain this limit, you are not going to follow new accounts unless you free up some space by unfollowing some accounts that you were already following.
How to Check Your Following List
Open up your profile, click on the “Following” count, and review your list to determine how many accounts you currently follow. If you’re near or over the limit, you will need to unfollow some users.
Solution: Unfollow Accounts
- Unfollow Dead Accounts: Find accounts that haven’t posted for a very long time or those you no longer have a connection with. Unfollowing them creates room to follow some new ones.
- Identify Duplicates Interests: If you’re following a multiple set of accounts that curate the same type of content, it could be a good idea to unfollow some of them to tidy up your feed.
Temporary Action Block
What is an Action Block?
Instagram does not allow spamming and spamming activities. If you do things that Instagram considers suspicious-like following or unfollowing multiple accounts within a very short time-you risk getting an action block, which is a temporary activity block. It can prevent you from doing such things like following more accounts, posting likes, or even commenting.
Common Triggers for Action Blocks
Mass Following or Unfollowing: In case you follow or unfollow many accounts in a short span of time, you are likely to be flagged by Instagram.
Mass Likes or Comments: Likewise, if you like or comment on many posts within a short time frame, there is a high chance of being blocked.
Solution: Cool Down Time
If you feel you are blocked, stay off the site. Do not continue to do anything for 24-48 hours at least. Once you have cooled down, you should be able to start following new accounts again.
Limit Your Activity: Slowly, build up your activity after your block is lifted. Do not take any actions very aggressively; this will likely get you blocked again.
Privacy Settings on an Account
Know Your Privacy Settings
If the account you are trying to follow has locked down their profile, you will be required to send them a follow request. This request will have to be accepted before you can formally follow the account and view their posts. If you have already sent a request, it will not be possible to follow them until they accept or reject it.
Solution: Wait
Wait for Approval: If you have sent a follow request, just wait. The user may not check their requests often. If you have mutual friends, you might consider reaching out to them to facilitate the connection.
Instagram App Glitches
Understanding App Glitches
At times, the problem has nothing to do with your account but is just a temporary glitch of the app. Bugs can happen for multiple reasons such as updates of apps, server issues, or even compatibility problems with your device.
Common App Glitches
Login Issues: Users have to face the log-in problems quite frequently as they lose their log in suddenly.
Notification Issues: Users don’t receive any notifications regarding follow requests or messages.
Solution: Troubleshooting App Issues
- Reopen the App: Quit the app completely and restart it to refresh the connection.
- Upgrade the App: To install the most recent version of Instagram, check your app store for updates.
- Delete and Reinstall the App: If this doesn’t work, try uninstalling the app and then reinstalling it to wipe out any possible bugs. This usually clears carrying forward problems.
Connectivity Issues
Why a Good Connection Is Important
Your internet connection can determine a lot about whether you can use Instagram to its fullest. An unstable network causes several problems and your issues may start with not easily finding new accounts to follow.
Detection of Network Issues
- Slow or Unstable Connection: Slow-loading posts or general lag could be due to an unstable connection.
- Disconnectivity: It may also cause you to lose connectivity frequently, making you unable to stay on Instagram.
Solution: Guarantee a Stable Connection
- Check Your Connection: Try checking the internet connection. Then, you can also try to switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data and vice versa to see whether the problem persists.
- Restart Your Router: If you are using Wi-Fi, restart your router to update your connection.
Account Restrictions
Understanding Account Restrictions
How to Diagnose Limits
- Limited Features: If you cannot like posts and comment on them while your ability to follow is limited – it’s likely due to this reason.
- Notification of Violations: Instagram may notify you if your account has been flagged for reasons, real or assumed.
Solution: Review Policy
- Get to know Instagram’s Policy: Knowing the community standards will avoid further infringements into the future.
- Appealing Restrictions: When such cases arise and you feel that the account was restricted in error, you may ask for a review of such decisions from Instagram.
Intermittent Instagram Downtimes
Identifying Downtimes
Instagram, like every other web-based service, sometimes experiences periodic downtimes or failures. Such malfunctions may block a user from following new accounts or doing other tasks on the platform.
Common Indications of a Downtime
- You cannot view posts or stories: If you can’t see posts or stories, it could be a symptom of a more comprehensive malfunction.
- Having All Users Complain of Similar Issues: Check through social media, such as Twitter, to find out if there is only a similar issue with everyone.
Solution: Wait It Out
- Check Instagram’s Status: Click through DownDetector or check through Twitter to see whether other users also say they have the similar problem.
- Waiting is Needed: In case it’s wide-ranging, the best option would be to wait until Instagram sorts it out on their end.
Age Restrictions
Knowing Age Restrictions
The minimum age of the user on Instagram, who wants to have an account, needs to be at least 13 years old. When a person changes the date of birth recently to below that age in the profile, then in most cases, there will be some limitations to the account like not being able to follow new users.
Solution: Check your Account Information
- Verify Your Age: Check if you have correctly set your age on the account. If you mistakenly filled an age less than the age required, you will have to make a request to Instagram support to change it.
- Provide Identification: If you make a request, you will be expected to identify yourself with evidence of your age.
Following Too Many People Simultaneously
How the Massive Following Process Impacts
Instagram’s algorithm does not want spam-like behavior. When you try to follow many accounts in a short period of time, you may trigger Instagram’s anti-spam measure, temporarily prohibiting you from following new users.
Solution: Break Up Your Follows
- Follow Little By Little: For example, instead of following multiple accounts at once, you can try to follow a few accounts each day. This way, you are unlikely to get flagged as spam.
- Engage with Content : Be sure to engage with the accounts you follow. Not only will it enhance your experience, but it will also tell Instagram that you are a real user.
Using Third-Party Apps
Knowing the Dangers of Third-Party Apps
Other people may employ other third-party apps or services to acquire followers or even automate their activities on Instagram. But using any such tools for followers may lead to such accounts being trapped in account restrictions or even ban as most of them is a violation of the rules and regulations of Instagram.
Solution: Organic Growth
- Avoid Third-Party Tools: Avoid any apps which ask you to log into your Instagram account or any other way to pretend to automate actions.
- Engage Authentically: It is building the Instagram follower base organically through quality content and engaging an audience.
Also read: 7 Tips to go viral on Instagram Reels
Conclusion
The struggles in trying to follow people on Instagram can be frustrating; however, the list of possible causes provided a solution to these issues. It is through reaching a follow limit, temporary action block, or app glitches.
If you follow the community guidelines of Instagram and normally interact, then you will not have any issues with the application. If the problem persists even after applying the solutions mentioned above, then contacting support on Instagram is advised. Patience along with a little troubleshooting will help you keep increasing your social circle on Instagram, thus enriching your social media experience.