Stop Using These Banned Hashtags!

An important part of any Instagram strategy is the use of hashtags. It is crucial that you monitor which ones you’re using because you don’t want to accidentally use a banned hashtag. Using a banned hashtag can derail your entire Instagram marketing plan. If you’ve been using hashtags as an organic growth strategy but your account hasn’t seen much growth it is possible 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!

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 #valentinesday. Sometimes, though, close alternatives are still okay. In this case, #valentinesday2022, with an “2022” on the end, is not banned and works just fine.

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.

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.

A List of Banned Instagram Hashtags from A-Z

A

B

#beautyblogger (**Note: #beautybloggers plural works.)
#besties
#bikinibody
#boho
#brain

C

D

E

G

H

#hardworkpaysoff (**Note: #hardworkpaysoff💪works.)
#hawks
#hotweather
#humpday
#hustler

I

K

L

M

N

O

#overnight

P

R

S

T

U

#undies

V

#valentinesday (**Note: #valentinesday2022 works)

W

#workflow

Y

#Youngmodel

So... how can you avoid using banned hashtags?

Instagram itself doesn’t publish a constantly-updated list of banned hashtags and they do change often. You can begin by looking for resources like this and scanning through the list of current banned hashtags. If you’re using any of them, remove them from your plan. After doing research, you can create a few different “sets” of hashtags. When you make a post choose the set that fits most closely with the post and use that and alter it adding a relevant tags or two specific to that post. (but check that it is not banned prior to) This can save you time when build your posting calendar but be sure to change it up.

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. 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. I hope this information was useful.

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Sited Source: Kicksta, Sam Hackett, posted Nov 19, 2021