How to Restrict and Mute Someone on Instagram {2023}

With over a billion users worldwide, Instagram is a social media behemoth. 

It allows us to stay connected, share captivating moments, and engage with others in an expansive digital landscape. 

But, as the old saying goes, ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’ Balancing the power of connectivity while maintaining personal boundaries can be challenging. 

That’s where Instagram’s ‘Mute’ and ‘Restrict’ features come into play. This comprehensive guide teaches you how to mute and restrict someone on Instagram.

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Part 1: How to Mute Someone on Instagram

Introduced in 2018, the ‘Mute’ feature is an excellent tool that lets you customize your Instagram feed without the need to unfollow or block someone. It ensures that their posts or stories won’t appear in your feed, but you can still access their profile manually if you wish.

Here are the steps to mute someone:

1. Visit the Profile: Start by navigating to the user profile you want to mute.
2. Access the Follow Menu: Tap the follow button To view all valuable options, including mute, restrict, unfollow, and Block.
3. Choose to Mute: From the dropdown list, select ‘Mute’. This will lead to another menu where you can mute posts, stories, or both.
4. Confirm Your Decision: After you’ve made your selection, confirm your choice, and you’re done!

Remember, this action is private; the person you’ve muted won’t be notified.

Part 2: How to Restrict Someone on Instagram

Instagram’s ‘Restrict’ feature takes things a step further. When you restrict someone, their comments on your posts will only be visible to them unless you approve them. 

Additionally, they won’t see when you’re online or when you’ve read their direct messages.

Here’s how to restrict a user:

1. Visit the Profile: Like muting, you start by navigating to the user’s profile.
2. Access the Follow Menu: Tap on the “follow menu” in the screen’s upper-left corner.
3. Select ‘Restrict’: In the dropdown list, select ‘Restrict.’
4. Confirm Your Decision: A dialogue box will appear detailing what happens when you restrict a user. If you’re sure, hit ‘Restrict’ again to confirm.

Again, this action is entirely private, offering you peace of mind.

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Additional Tips – How to Mute All Notifications From A Particular User

Instagram also allows you to mute all notifications from a particular user. You can do this by going to their profile, tapping on ‘Notification Menu’, at the top right corner, and toggling off the activities you don’t want to be notified about.

Remember that both the mute and restrict actions are reversible. Should you decide to unmute or unrestrict a user, follow the same steps and select ‘Unmute’ or ‘Unrestrict’. 

The other person will not receive a notification of either action.

Conclusion

While Instagram offers us a portal to connect with the world, it’s essential to curate our social media spaces for our comfort and well-being. 

Understanding how to mute and restrict someone on Instagram equips you to take control of your Instagram experience.

Whether decluttering your feed with the mute feature or using the restrict feature to manage interactions better, these tools enable you to create a more personalized and enjoyable Instagram journey. 

Please don’t shy away from using them to enhance your social media experience. After all, your Instagram should be just that—yours.