How To Hide Friends on Instagram
As an Instagram user, you have the choice to set your profile as either public or private. If your account is public, both your followers and non-followers can engage with your posts and view the list of accounts you follow, as well as those who follow you.
This way, your Instagram friends are visible to everyone. However, you can “hide” your friends by limiting the visibility of your Instagram account.
This way, your Instagram friends are visible to everyone. However, you can “hide” your friends by limiting the visibility of your Instagram account.
Contents
Why Would You Need To Hide Your Friends on Instagram?
While social networks are primarily intended for connecting with friends and gaining insights into others’ lives, they have unfortunately become tools for stalkers and cyberbullies.
It has become easy for individuals to search for someone on a social network and interact with them without restrictions. However, these platforms prioritize user privacy and security by providing features to control account access.
On Instagram, you may find it necessary to hide your friends from a stalker or cyberbully who can target them through your account. This is because Instagram displays your list of followers and those you follow to anyone if your profile is public.
To regain control over this situation, you have three options: making your account private, restricting the person or persons, or blocking them.
Setting your account to private and blocking users are familiar methods. However, by restricting someone on Instagram, you limit their access to your account. When you restrict a person, they won’t be able to see your online status, know if you’ve read their messages, and their comments on your posts will be hidden until you choose to view them.
How To Change Your Account From Public to Private
When you switch your account to private, only the number of your followers and the accounts you follow will be visible to others. The profiles of your followers and the people you follow will remain hidden until they send a request to follow you, which you can then accept.
Making your account private is a simple process, whether you’re using an iOS or Android device. Follow these steps to do so:
- Open the Instagram app on your mobile device.
- Tap on the profile icon located in the bottom right corner.
- Click on the hamburger menu icon situated in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings” from the menu options.
- Tap on “Privacy.”
- Toggle on the “Private Account” option.
By following these steps, you can easily switch your Instagram account to private, providing an additional layer of protection for your friends against potential stalkers while still maintaining control over your privacy.
How To Restrict Someone From Your Account
Restricting a person from your account doesn’t directly hide your friends from them. However, you can suggest to your friends that they restrict the person, which will limit the access that person has to them.
As mentioned earlier, this restriction includes invisible comments, hidden activity status, and the ability to turn off read receipts for messages.
To restrict an account from your Instagram, whether on an Android or iOS device, follow these steps:
- Launch the Instagram app and sign in if you haven’t already.
- Tap on the profile icon located in the bottom right corner.
- Tap on the hamburger menu icon situated in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings” from the menu options.
- Tap on “Privacy.”
- Under “Connections,” click on “Restricted Accounts.”
- At the bottom, tap “Continue.”
- Type the username of the account you want to restrict in the search box.
- Once the name appears, tap the “Restrict” button next to their name.
By following these steps, you can easily restrict an account on Instagram, ensuring that the person has limited access to your profile and minimizing their interactions with your friends.
How To Block Someone on Instagram
Blocking a person on Instagram completely prevents them from accessing and viewing your profile. It is the most effective way to hide your friends from someone on Instagram, especially if you don’t want them interacting with your posts.
To block a person on Instagram, whether using an Android or iOS device, follow these steps:
- Launch the Instagram app and sign in.
- Go to the search box and enter the username of the account you want to block.
- Tap on their profile to open it.
- Tap on the three-dot icon located at the top right corner of the screen.
- From the options that appear, tap on “Block.”
- Confirm your decision to block the person by tapping “Block.”
By following these steps, you can successfully block a person on Instagram, ensuring that they are unable to view your profile or interact with your posts.
When an account is blocked, people won’t be able to search for your account, tag you, or mention your username in any post. The block option literally cuts off any ties you have with a person on Instagram.
Conclusion
While you cannot directly hide your friends from any specific account on Instagram, there are alternative actions you can take:
- Report the account to Instagram: If you believe that the person poses a threat to you or your friends, you can report their account to Instagram. Instagram has mechanisms in place to address issues such as harassment, cyberbullying, or other violations of their community guidelines.
- Contact the appropriate authorities: If the situation extends beyond Instagram and involves potential harm or illegal activities, it is important to inform the appropriate authorities. They can provide assistance and take necessary actions to ensure your safety and the safety of your friends.
Remember to prioritize your well-being and take appropriate measures to protect yourself and others.
