Blocking Someone on Instagram: Can They Still See Your Posts When Tagging Mutual Friends?

When you block someone on Instagram, they will not be able to see your posts, regardless of whether you tag a mutual friend. This privacy feature is designed to protect your content and provide a better user experience. However, it's important to understand the limitations of this block as well as how Instagram operates to maintain its user base and revenue.

Understanding Instagram's Blocking Feature

When you block someone on Instagram, the blocked user's account is restricted from viewing your profile posts, stories, and any other private content you have set. This includes posts where you tag a mutual friend. Even if they have access to your content via a mutual friend, the blocked user cannot see it.

Why Blocking Works

The block feature is implemented for the protection of the user. It ensures that if you are being social media stalked or harassed, your content remains private. Instagram generates more revenue by keeping users engaged, as a loyal user base is essential for advertisers. By blocking someone, you ensure that they cannot engage with your content, which helps maintain your privacy and prevents unwanted interactions.

Instagram's Business Model and User Engagement

Instagram is owned by Facebook, and its primary goal is to keep users engaged and prolong their time on the platform. They do this by making advertisements look as authentic as possible, ensuring a comfortable user experience. They want you to stay on the platform longer and more frequently, as this means they can continue to generate revenue from advertisers. If users were to leave, advertisers would lose the opportunity to display their ads, leading to a loss of revenue and a potential end to the business.

At the current scale, my block list contains multiple hundreds of people, and while blocking someone does not completely ensure that mutual contacts cannot play messenger for the blocked party, it does prevent them from accessing your content directly. Mutual contacts might still be able to see your content through screenshots, but the block makes it more difficult for them to do so.

For a more thorough workaround, the blocked user would need to use an incognito window to view publicly shared content, which is not a straightforward process for most users. Most mobile app users would need to sign out of both Instagram and Facebook in their mobile settings and then use a browser to locate the content. If someone is willing to go to such lengths, a restraining order might be necessary.

Conclusion

Blocking someone on Instagram effectively prevents them from seeing your posts, even if you tag a mutual friend. However, there are still some ways that a determined individual might access your content, such as through screenshots or by using incognito features. Nonetheless, the block feature is a crucial tool for protecting your privacy and maintaining a positive user experience.