Instagram offers its users a variety of privacy options to customize who can see their content. One of the most popular features for managing visibility is the ability to share Stories with a select audience. You can limit who views your Instagram Stories in different ways, one of which is by blocking specific users from seeing them. But if you decide to block someone from viewing your Story, will they be notified? Will they know that you’ve restricted them? Let is dive into how this works and whether or not they will realize it.
Understanding Instagram’s Story Privacy Settings
Before we get into the specifics of blocking someone from seeing your Instagram Story, it is essential to understand how Instagram’s privacy settings work in general. When you post a Story on Instagram, you can control who sees it. By default, your Stories are visible to all your followers. However, you can customize the visibility by:
- Hiding your story from specific people: You can choose to hide your Story from particular people without unfollowing or blocking them.
- Blocking users: Blocking someone on Instagram prevents them from interacting with your account in any way, including viewing your posts and Stories.
While hiding your Story from someone is less obvious, blocking them is a more permanent and noticeable measure. Blocking restricts the user from seeing your Story, browsing your feed, or interacting with you in any way on Instagram.
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What Happens When You Block Someone from Seeing Your Story?
When you block someone on Instagram, they lose access to your content entirely. They can no longer like, comment, or view your photos or Stories, and they won’t be able to send you direct messages. Essentially, the user is “cut off” from interacting with your account in any form.
However, there are some important nuances to consider about blocking someone from viewing your Instagram Story:
- They won’t receive a notification: Instagram does not send a direct notification to the person you’ve blocked, so they won’t immediately know that you’ve restricted their access to your Story.
- They won’t see your Story in the feed: Once blocked, they won’t see your Story in the top of their feed or the Stories bar. Your Story will simply disappear for them.
- They won’t know they have been blocked from your Story unless they try to view it: The only way the blocked user might realize they’ve been restricted is if they specifically try to view your Story. If they can no longer access it, they may suspect something is different. However, Instagram does not provide an alert, so it’s not an immediate giveaway.
- They can still see your posts if they visit your profile: Even though they can’t see your Stories, the person you’ve blocked can still see your posts if they visit your profile unless you’ve also set your profile to private. A private profile restricts anyone who isn’t following you from seeing your posts.
- Their previous views of your Stories are hidden: Instagram no longer shows blocked users in the viewer list of your Stories. If the blocked user had previously viewed your Stories, they will no longer appear in the list of viewers.
Will They Know You have Blocked Them?
The key question is whether or not the person will know they’ve been blocked from seeing your Story. As mentioned, there are no direct notifications sent by Instagram when you block someone, so they won’t immediately receive any kind of alert. However, there are subtle signs they might pick up on that could clue them in:
- Missing Story Views: If they are accustomed to viewing your Stories regularly, they might notice that your Story is no longer visible to them. This absence could raise a red flag, especially if you’ve been active on Instagram and posting frequently.
- Unable to See Your Story at All: If they try to view your Story and see a blank screen or find that it’s no longer available, they might wonder if they’ve been restricted. In some cases, users may even try to visit your profile to check your feed and see if they can still interact with other posts.
- Inconsistent Interactions: If the blocked person tries to comment or like one of your posts and finds they cannot engage, they may suspect that they have been blocked or restricted from interacting with you. This might not be directly related to Stories, but it can make them question whether something has changed.
How to Block Someone from Seeing Your Story
If you have decided that blocking someone from your Story is the best option, it is easy to do so. Here is how to block someone from seeing your Story on Instagram:
- Go to your Instagram profile: Open the app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom-right corner.
- Tap on the three horizontal lines (menu): This is located in the top-right corner of your profile.
- Select ‘Settings’: Scroll down and tap on ‘Settings’ to open the menu.
- Tap on ‘Privacy’: Under the Privacy section, you’ll find an option for Story controls.
- Select ‘Story’: Under Story controls, you can choose who sees your stories. Here, you will see the option to ‘Hide Story From’.
- Select the person you want to block: Scroll through your followers and choose the person you wish to block from seeing your Stories. Tap ‘Done,’ and that person will no longer be able to view your future Stories.
Alternatively, you can block the person entirely by going to their profile, tapping on the three dots in the top-right corner, and selecting “Block.”
Alternatives to Blocking: Hiding Stories
If you want to limit someone’s access to your Stories but do not want to block them completely, you can use the “Hide Story From” feature. This option allows you to select specific people who will not be able to see your Stories without blocking them entirely.
This is a less drastic option, and the person will not be notified that their access to your Story is restricted. They simply won’t see your Story in the Stories bar.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Will someone know if I block them from seeing my Instagram Story?
No, Instagram does not send notifications when you block someone from seeing your Story. However, they may notice if they can no longer view it.
Can a blocked person still see my posts on Instagram?
No, if you block someone, they cannot see any of your posts or Stories. However, they may still visit your profile if it’s public.
Can I unblock someone from seeing my Instagram Story?
Yes, you can unblock them by going to your Story settings and allowing them access again or by unblocking them from your account entirely.
What happens if I hide my Story from someone instead of blocking them?
If you hide your Story from someone, they won’t be notified, and your Story will simply not appear in their feed. They may not realize it’s hidden.
How do I block someone from seeing my Instagram Story?
Go to your profile > Settings > Privacy > Story > Hide Story From, and select the person you want to block from viewing your Stories.
Conclusion
If you block someone from seeing your Instagram Story, they will not receive a direct notification or alert from Instagram. The only way they might realize they have been restricted is if they actively try to view your Story and notice that it’s no longer visible to them. However, Instagram’s design keeps this process relatively discreet, so it’s unlikely they’ll immediately know you’ve blocked them.
As with any social media platform, the key to managing your privacy is understanding the available settings and choosing the one that aligns with your needs. Whether you want to limit someone’s visibility of your content or cut off all interaction with them, Instagram offers several tools to help you maintain control over your social media experience.
