Instagram has user-initiated blocks (complete cutoff), system-imposed "action blocks" (temporary limits on likes/follows/comments for spam), and "shadowbans" (reduced visibility for guideline violations). There's also Restrict, a softer approach that hides unwanted comments and message requests without notifying the user, and Mute, which hides someone's posts from your feed.
While they won't receive a direct notification, they'll quickly realize you've blocked them when they can no longer find your profile or interact with your content. Ultimately, the choice between Instagram Restrict and Block depends on your desired level of interaction and visibility.
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 her page. If it looks normal when you view it logged out of Instagram, then you're blocked. If it still shows what you see in your screenshot, then it's a glitch of some sort.
Restricting someone on Facebook is the most subtle way to manage interactions without blocking or muting them completely. When you restrict a user, they can still see your public posts and interact with your content, but their comments and messages will only be visible to them unless you choose to approve them.
When you block someone from the Instagram app, you'll have the option to block their account, or to block their account and other existing accounts they may have or accounts they may create. Note: If you're following multiple accounts owned by the same person, you'll need to block each account individually.
Soft blocking on Instagram is a subtle way to remove someone from your followers without them knowing, achieved by briefly blocking and then unblocking a user; this forces them to unfollow you, stopping their content from appearing in your feed and yours in theirs, but allows them to still find your profile and interact if they try, acting as a low-drama way to set boundaries. It's different from Instagram's built-in "Restrict" feature, which hides their comments and messages without unfollowing them, though both offer discreet ways to manage unwanted interactions.
Practical signs someone may have muted you
Messages remain “sent” or “delivered” but never get quick replies: If your messages consistently show delivered but the person doesn't reply for long stretches while they remain active elsewhere, muting could be the reason.
What it means to Restrict someone on Instagram & how to do it. This feature allows you to discreetly restrict someone without alerting them. The restricted person won't see when you're online, and you won't receive notifications for their comments. They also can't tag or mention you or remix your content.
There are a couple of indicators that you may be blocked:
Once someone restricts you on Instagram, there is no built‑in way for you to see their activity status, and you won't be able to tell when they're online or when they were last active.
No, Instagram does not show who visits your profile. The only exception is Instagram Stories, where you can see who viewed your story while it's live. For posts, reels, and profile visits, you only see numbers, not names.
If you restrict someone: They won't be able to see when you're online or if you've read their messages. Their new comments on your posts will only be visible to that person, and you can choose to see the comment by tapping See comment.
First, If you can see their tweets on their profile but don't show up in your timeline, they've likely soft blocked you. If you try to search for the person's username on Twitter. It's most likely that a soft block prevented you from following each other.
Unlike blocking, which creates a clear separation that the blocked user can detect, Restrict operates more discreetly, allowing you to limit someone's interactions with your content without them necessarily knowing they've been restricted.
How Do You Soft Block Someone? To soft block someone, go to their profile and block them. Wait a few moments, and then unblock them. The exact steps for blocking someone will depend on what platform you're using, whether that's Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, etc.
Soft Block on Instagram: A More Subtle Option
Profile visibility
Restricted users can still search for your username and visit your profile page. Your username is visible to them everywhere on the Instagram app, such as your comments and likes on others' posts.
'Restricted' versus 'blocked' on Instagram differs greatly. While a blocked account can't contact or reach you in any way, a restricted account can still see your posts and comments, but only visible to both of you.
Unfortunately, there's no surefire way to know if someone muted you on Instagram without asking. However, if you notice that someone who normally interacts with you a lot is no longer liking or commenting on your posts, viewing your stories, or replying to messages, you might have been muted.
Muting helps you ignore someone without preventing them from doing anything. Blocking someone prevents them from messaging you, commenting on your observations, identifying your observations, and otherwise interacting with you on iNaturalist.