Hashtags are an important part of any business’s Instagram strategy, but it’s important that you monitor which ones you’re using. You don’t want to accidentally use a banned hashtag, as it can derail your entire Instagram marketing plan. If you’ve been using many different hashtags and other organic Instagram growth strategies and your account hasn’t been growing much (or at all), you might be accidentally using banned hashtags.
What are banned hashtags?
Banned hashtags are hashtags that Instagram users have reported because the posts using them go against Instagram’s guidelines. This means that any post that uses that hashtag will be hidden, which will only hurt your organic reach and growth efforts.
Banned hashtags are always changing, based on community reports and Instagram’s investigations. Unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t publish a list of the currently banned hashtags, but that’s why articles like this one exist!
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Why does Instagram ban hashtags?
Instagram bans hashtags because of reports from users. Typically, it happens because people are posting inappropriate content and using certain hashtags. Some of the hashtags that are banned, though, are ones you wouldn’t necessarily expect, like #beautyblogger. Sometimes, though, close alternatives are still okay. In this case, #beautybloggers, with an “s” on the end, is not banned and works just fine.
Most users wouldn’t post inappropriate content with otherwise innocent hashtags. Instead, these posts typically come from bots or spam accounts, so this is another way that Instagram is trying to crack down on fake accounts to make the Instagram platform a better experience for its real users.
Are you using banned hashtags unintentionally? Take a look through this list and see if you’ve used any of these recently. If you have a post that didn’t perform well and it used one or more of these hashtags, you might have found your answer.
The List of Banned Instagram Hashtags from A-Z
A
- #abdl
- #addmysc
- #adulting
- #alone
- #always
- #armparty
- #asiangirl
- #ass
- #assday
- #assworship
- #attractive
B
- #babe
- #bbc
- #beautyblogger (#beautybloggers works.)
- #beautydirectory
- #besties
- #bikinibody
- #boho
- #books
- #brain
C
- #costumes
- #cpr
- #curvy
- #curvygirls
- #customers
D
- #date
- #dating
- #desk
- #direct
- #dm
- #daddylove
- #dogsofinstagram
E
- #easter
- #edm
- #eggplant
- #eggplantparm
- #elevator
F
- #fishnets
- #fitnessgirls
- #followforfollow
G
- #girlsonly
- #gloves
- #goddess
- #graffitiigers
H
- #happythanksgiving
- #hardworkpaysoff (#hardworkpaysoff💪 is ok.)
- #hawks
- #hotweather
- #humpday
- #hustler
I
- #ice
- #ig
- #ilovemyinstagram
- #instababy
- #instamood
- #instasport
- #iphonegraphy
- #italiano
K
- #kansas (**Note: #kansascity works.)
- #kickoff
- #killingit
- #kissing
L
- #l4l
- #lean
- #like
- #likeback
- #likeforlike
- #lingerie
- #livinforalivin
- #loseweight
- #lulu
M
- #master
- #mileycyrus
- #milf
- #mirrorphoto
- #models
- #mustfollow
N
- #nasty
- #newyears
- #newyearsday
- #nudity
O
- #overnight
P
- #parties
- #petite
- #pornfood
- #prettygirl
- #publicrelations
- #puppydogmondays
- #pushups
R
- #rate
- #ravens
S
- #saltwater
- #samelove
- #selfharm
- #sexworker
- #single
- #singlelife
- #skateboarding
- #skype
- #snap
- #snapchat
- #snowstorm
- #sopretty
- #stranger
- #streetphoto
- #stud
- #sunbathing
- #swole
- #shower
- #shit
T
- #tag4like
- #tagsforlikes
- #tanlines
- #todayimwearing
- #teens
- #teen
- #tgif
- #thought
- #todayimwearing
- #treasurethesemoments
U
- #undies
- #underage
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V
- #valentinesday
W
- #woman
- #womancrushwednesday
- #women
- #workflow
- #wtf
Y
- #Youngmodel
What happens if I use a banned hashtag?
If you use one of these hashtags, your post won’t be shown to your audience. The only way people will be able to see it is by visiting your profile, if you link it in your Stories, or if they happen to search for the banned hashtag and scroll through the results.
If you use too many banned hashtags, Instagram could flag your account, which could eventually lead to a “shadowban” or even your account being removed. The best course of action here is to be better safe than sorry. Check your hashtags before you use them to make sure you are only using working, approved hashtags that will show your post to more users and potential Instagram followers – not the opposite.
How to Avoid Banned Hashtags
Well, as we mentioned, Instagram itself doesn’t publish a constantly updated list of banned hashtags, and they do change somewhat often. You can begin by looking for resources like this and scanning through the list of currently banned hashtags. If you’re using any of them, remove them from your plan.
There are many different hashtag strategies companies can use. Some people like to create a large bank of hashtags that are compatible with their business and the posts they typically create. Then, they’ll pull from that selection of hashtags each time they make a post so they pick the most accurate hashtags.
Other people create a few different “sets” of hashtags. Then, when they make a post, they choose the set that fits most closely with the post and use that. This can save you time, but it also means your hashtags won’t be quite as specific and accurate as they would be if you selected them each time.
Still other people create a post and then come up with the hashtags they’ll use right there on the spot without having a bank to choose from already. This is certainly the most time-intensive way, and if you don’t have your hashtag list ready before you hit “Post,” you’re wasting precious time as the Instagram algorithm begins ranking and sorting the moment the post is published.
No matter which method you use to add your hashtags, it’s a good idea to check them first to make sure you aren’t using a banned Instagram hashtag. If you have a bank or sets of hashtags, you can check them occasionally to make sure none of them are added to the banned list. If you choose hashtags off the top of your head each time, you’ll want to check them each time, too.
Because Instagram uses bans like these to find and eliminate fake accounts, it’s important that you watch your behavior so it doesn’t come across as spammy. One way to do this is by mixing up your hashtag usage. If you use the same 10 hashtags on every single post, that’s an indication to Instagram that you might be a bot or a fake account. Instead, use different hashtags that apply directly to the image and the content of your caption. The algorithm can see if the hashtags you use match the objects in the image you posted, and this can help show that you are a real person running a real account.
To check to see if a hashtag is banned, simply go to the Explore tab and type in the hashtag you want to use. Then, click on it and see what happens. It is a banned hashtag if you receive a notification stating that recent posts with that hashtag are currently hidden because the community has complained that the content does not comply with Instagram’s community guidelines. If you search for it and you don’t see this message, but instead just the number of posts and other information about the hashtag, it is clean and good to go.
If you haven’t checked your hashtags recently and you’ve noticed a dip in the engagement on your posts, that could be a sign that one of the hashtags you’re using has been banned. Take the time to search for your hashtags and see which one it is. Then remove it from your plan, add a new one in its place and watch your engagement increase again.
Banned Hashtags on Instagram
Banned hashtags can be a tricky thing to navigate, especially because they’re always changing and there’s never direct information from Instagram about them. However, the engagement and growth that can come from using good, accurate hashtags is well worth the extra steps it takes to avoid using a banned hashtag. Have you found a hashtag that’s banned that isn’t on this list? Let us know so we can keep this resource up-to-date!
Don’t overlook the importance of adding captivating and meaningful selfie captions for Instagram posts. These captions can truly enhance the personality of your content and boost audience interaction.
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FINAL thoughts:
Navigating the world of hashtags on Instagram requires a keen understanding of the platform’s community guidelines and terms of service. Using banned hashtags can have serious consequences, ranging from reduced visibility to potential account restrictions such as shadowbanning. It’s crucial to stay informed about which hashtags are prohibited and to avoid using them in your posts.
By focusing on relevant, appropriate hashtags that accurately describe your content and engage your target audience, you can maximize your post’s visibility while maintaining compliance with Instagram’s policies.
FAQ
What Is The Penalty for Using Banned Hashtags?
The penalty for using banned hashtags varies depending on the platform and the severity of the violation. Platforms like Instagram and Twitter have policies against certain hashtags that promote hate speech, violence, or illegal activities. If you use a banned hashtag, your post may be subject to removal, your account could be suspended or banned, or you may face other consequences, such as reduced visibility for your content.
It’s essential to review the community guidelines and terms of service of the platform you’re using to understand what hashtags are prohibited. Generally, it’s advisable to avoid using hashtags that are known to be associated with harmful or prohibited content to prevent any penalties or repercussions.
What is the 30 hashtag limit?
The “30 hashtag limit” refers to the maximum number of hashtags allowed per post on Instagram. Instagram allows users to include up to 30 hashtags in a single post. This limit was put in place to prevent spammy behavior and to encourage users to be more selective and strategic with the hashtags they use.
Exceeding the 30 hashtag limit can result in your post being flagged as spam by Instagram, which may lead to reduced visibility for your content or even account restrictions. Therefore, it’s generally recommended to stay within the 30-hashtag limit and focus on using hashtags that are most relevant to your post and target audience.
Can I get shadow ban on Instagram using forbidden hashtags?
Yes, using forbidden or banned hashtags on Instagram can potentially lead to a shadowban. A shadowban is when Instagram restricts the visibility of your account or certain posts without notifying you directly. This means your content may not appear in hashtag searches or on the Explore page, reducing its discoverability to other users.
Where do you put hashtags on Instagram 2025?
Many users include hashtags within the caption of their posts. You can add them organically as part of your caption text. Some users prefer to include them at the end of the caption, while others integrate them throughout.
If you prefer to keep your caption clean and concise, you can place your hashtags in a separate paragraph below your main caption and also you can use some one word captions for Instagram. To visually separate them, you can use line breaks (pressing enter) or punctuation marks like periods or dashes.
