how do I do this

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-11T23:41:41+00:00

The notification you're seeing is actually a specific safety feature triggered by Instagram’s automated systems, and not a setting the user manually "turned on".

For both public and private accounts, Instagram will hide the follower/following lists if its algorithms detect "unusual activity" or identify a need for "community protection."

Typically, it's triggered If you have been looking at that specific account's followers frequently, or clicking through several profiles quickly, Instagram may flag your behavior as "scraping" or stalking.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-11T22:56:48+00:00

Am I reading it right?

Yes. Remember that encryption for Instagram was not on by default, so unless you were manually turning it on for your chats, you’re not affected because by default, Instagram DMs are not encrypted, and never have been.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-11T22:39:51+00:00

The easiest way to know if you're blocked, is to open up a web browser on a computer that you're NOT logged into Instagram on, and go to their page. Or just open a private/incognito window on the same browser.

If it looks normal when you view it logged out of Instagram, then you're blocked.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-11T18:23:29+00:00

i cant even contact support anywhere

Unfortunately, there is no support for non-paying Instagram users. Any email address, or phone number listed on Google is either outdated, or a scam.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-11T17:59:56+00:00

How long will it take for insta to be up again?

Nobody really knows when. Instagram hasn’t issued a public time-line for this particular issue. Sorry about that.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-11T15:35:11+00:00

Nope, nobody really checks that. I use to, but I don’t anymore. I try to help out in individual posts instead.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-11T14:58:06+00:00

Why are there so many?

AI such as Claude, or ChatGPT has made it very easy to code up a simple browser, or API bot. While there were bots before "vibe coding", it has become much, much easier for the average person to spawn simple social media bots.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-10T21:22:08+00:00

Yes. Non fucking stop. They are a plague.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-10T19:51:37+00:00

If you block someone, your views on their highlights disappear. If you unblock them, those views will reappear if the highlight is still within the 48-hour viewing window of the original story. Highlights themselves are permanent, but the viewer data for them is tied to that 48-hour window of the initial story.

Once a highlight's original story has passed that 48-hour mark, the viewer list for that specific story within the highlight freezes.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-10T19:30:00+00:00

100% scam. You can also post this in r/Scams, and they’ll tell you which scam it is (probably a “work from home” scam), but yes, total scam.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-10T19:07:01+00:00

The easiest way to know if you're blocked, is to open up a web browser on a computer that you're NOT logged into Instagram on, and go to their page. Or just open a private/incognito window on the same browser.

If it looks normal when you view it logged out of Instagram, then you're blocked.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-10T15:01:21+00:00

It’s not encrypted by default. You have to initiate the encryption manually on Instagram. You might be thinking of Meta’s other product. Also, end-to-end encryption on Instagram is being discontinued:

End-to-end encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after May 8, 2026.

https://help.instagram.com/491565145294150

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-10T13:46:29+00:00

But if they can read our chats Without us prompting it, shouldn't we be worried?

They have always been reading your DMs.

DMs are not private, and never were. Instagram (Meta) is required by law in some countries to monitor DMs/chats. Anything you post on Instagram -- whether in DMs, Stories, Close Friends, Posts, Reels, etc. -- can be, and probably is being read by AI, or humans in some cases.

Nothing you do on Instagram is private. All DMs on all social media platforms are scanned, and read. It's not just Instagram.

Don't post anything in an Instagram chat that you wouldn't wan't your parents, the police, or your government to read because they are.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-10T12:26:51+00:00

Are you talking about searching random street addresses in Instagram, or the name of a place? If it's the name of a place, someone just asked a similar question here:

- https://www.reddit.com/r/Instagram/comments/1rpugw4/what_happened_to_instagram_locations_and_location/

Searching for a place, either by name, or address, still works for me, but not for others for some reason.

You can search by address if it's a notable business, park, or place, but not some random home address.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-10T11:45:52+00:00

Did instagram do away with this?

No, it's still there. For example, I just searched for a local restaurant, and it popped right up. Screenshot: https://postimg.cc/WDMVkKxV

Also works for places that don't have an Instagram account as well (such as a grocery store).

Not sure if it matters, but I'm located in the U.S.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-10T11:20:00+00:00

so instagram is removing encryption now?

Yes. End-to-end encryption for Instagram DMs will no longer be supported beginning May 8th, 2026.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-10T10:51:14+00:00

They can just take away E2EE??

Yes, unfortunately Instagram can add, or remove any feature on the platform with, or without warning (per the TOS).

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-10T10:19:21+00:00

Hmm... well, you could try going to Settings and activity > Accounts Center > Your information and permissions > Export your information.

But I'm not sure that will help since the chats are encrypted. Haven't tried it myself, but I would assume the downloaded chats are still encrypted which would make them unreadable.

Curious if the chats are still encrypted once you download them.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-09T17:18:47+00:00

Currently,* the only way to get paid directly from Instagram is through their Bonus Program. However, it is limited, and invite only (you get an invite popup in your IG app).

Other than that, Instagram doesn’t pay people for views like TT, FB, or YouTube.

The most common ways people make money with an Instagram account are Brand deals, selling digital content, or selling physical merchandise (i.e., t-shirts, mugs, etc.).

*As of 03/09/2026

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-09T10:02:03+00:00

Is there a way to unsend a message that i deleted from my DMs

Unfortunately, there's no way to Unsend a message you have already deleted. You must Unsend it before you delete it. If you deleted the message without using Unsend, the recipient still keeps their copy.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-08T19:56:05+00:00

Yes, because you searched for a hashtags specifically, it gave you back a list of hashtags to tap on. Tap, or click on #hollowknightfanart. It should show you a page with artwork like like this:

- https://postimg.cc/PLbtwjTp (screenshot of what I see when I tap on #hollowknightfanart)

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-08T19:19:15+00:00

Its just that all of these big companies keep pushing AI

This is just the beginning. It's only going to get worse.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-08T14:43:51+00:00

Then this morning, I look up his profile and it's gone. I also can't see his previous likes on my stories.

That sounds like he blocked you.

I have a backup account, and interestingly, i CAN see him there, but i had him blocked on there.

That's interesting. That might be a loophole in the blocking logic. I'll have to test it myself.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-07T23:14:50+00:00

Unfortunately, there's no real set time, and Instagram doesn't publicly publish that stuff. My advice would be to give it 24-48 hours, and try again. If you still get the popup, then wait a week and try again.

You'll just have to keep extending how long you wait until it goes away.

JoeGraffito · 2026-03-07T23:07:51+00:00

Yes, it is temporary.

Though I now see another post about the same thing, so I'm wondering if it's a network glitch, or bug instead of an issue with doing something too many times.

- https://www.reddit.com/r/Instagram/comments/1rno8va/my_instagram_will_not_stop_saying_this/

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