There’s little doubt that Instagram is a great place to keep up with the photographic exploits of friends and family, as well as following celebrities and significant figures who share their lives on the social media platform. Unfortunately, it’s also possible to run into some unpleasant people who leave nasty comments on your posts or just generally make life less enjoyable for all concerned.
Well, there’s no need to endure their presence, as there’s a quick and easy way to block them so they can’t ruin your day and clutter up your feed.
What does blocking do?
When you block someone on Instagram they will no longer be able to find your profile or posts, meaning they can’t comment on them either. Any messages they’ve already left will remain on your posts, but these can be deleted by tapping on them and then either swiping left (iOS) or tapping and holding on the remark (Android) then selecting the delete option.
Will the person know I’ve blocked them?
When you block someone, Instagram states that it won’t notify them that you have done so. Of course, they’ll work this out eventually when realising that your account isn’t accessible anymore.
How to block someone on Instagram
Removing someone from your feed is very easy. First, open the Instagram app on your phone, then tap on the person you want to vanquish. Next, tap the three dots in the top-right corner of their profile and finally tap the Block option from the menu that appears.
That’s it. From now on your feed should be free from posts or comments by that person, and they will no longer be able to see your content. (Of course we only blocked @DeeBeeus to show you how it’s done. We reversed it immediately, unable to live without the wondrous pictures of guitars that the account posts every day.)
How to block comments on Instagram
Should you wish to simply prevent certain people from commenting on your posts, then that is also achievable without blocking them entirely.
To do this, open the Instagram app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Next, tap the three lines icon in the top right corner and select Settings from the menu that appears.
Scroll down until you find the section marked Privacy and security, then tap on the Comment controls option. In here you’ll find the Block comments from option, which you can tap and then search for the person whom you wish to silence.
Hopefully this will make your Instagram experience a better one, with less noise from those who would seek to spoil the fun.
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Author: Martyn Casserly, Contributor
Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews.