Are you one of the hundreds of millions of people who use Instagram Stories to share experiences with friends and followers? It can be disheartening if you think someone has blocked you from seeing their story, but how can you tell for sure? It’s important to know whether you are blocked so you can confirm you are still being seen in someone’s story and do not need to worry about being blocked. In this article, we’ll break down the signs of being blocked from someone’s Instagram Story.
1. What Is Instagram Story?
Instagram Story is a feature of the photography and video sharing app, Instagram. It allows users to post photos and videos as a 24-hour story. It’s available to both individuals and businesses.
Benefits of Instagram Story:
- Allows businesses to stay up to date with their followers on what’s happening with their brand.
- Provides the option to add polls to gather feedback or ask questions.
- Enables users to add downloadable content to their stories.
- Enhances user ability to connect with their followers in real-time.
Users can also add hashtags and location tags to their stories to make it easier for others to discover them. This boosts visibility and engagement on the app by giving their content greater visibility. Furthermore, you can use the hashtag and location sticker feature to organize and filter stories by topics.
2. How to Tell If Someone Blocked You From Their Story
Having someone block you from their Instagram story can feel upsetting, no matter how small or trivial the reason. You might not know if a person blocked you for sure, but there are some indicators you can look for to help you figure it out. Here are some tips to help you determine if someone blocked you from their Instagram Stories:
- You can’t find their profile on your list of story viewers: If you can’t find the person’s profile on your list of story viewers, then it’s likely they have blocked you.
- You can no longer view their stories: If you can no longer see their stories, then this is another sign the person has blocked you. Even if you can find you can’t view the stories, that’s a sign they have blocked.
- They no longer appear in your followers/following list: If your friend has disappeared from your followers or following list, it’s a sign they have blocked you from seeing their profile.
If you still aren’t sure, consider messaging the person about it. If you follow them and you are still unable to see their stories, bring it up in a polite message and see what their response is. If you get no response, try a different method such as calling them or asking someone you know who knows the person if that person has blocked you.
3. Signs That Can Help Determine If You Are Blocked
If you are in a situation where you may have been blocked and need to know for sure, there are various indicators to consider. Knowing them can help you determine if a contact has blocked you.
Unanswered messages: One of the primary signs that someone has blocked you is when any kind of messages sent to them remain unanswered. They might have read it, but will not reply no matter how long you wait.
Stops appearing in search results: Another sign is if that contact no longer appears in your search results. You may be blocked if you can’t find them on your contacts or social media platforms. If they are blocked, you also might not be able to view any recent updates they have shared.
Rejected friend requests: If you have sent a friend request and received no response with no option to cancel, then it means that you have been blocked. Instead, you will get the message like request failed, friend request already sent, or request could not be completed.
4. How to Respond If You Believe You Have Been Blocked
Take the Time to Reflect
- Think through why you thought you might be blocked in the first place
- Consider the conversation and how it could have been misinterpreted
- Explore how your behavior could be perceived as intolerable
If you believe that your conversation partner has blocked you, take a step back and take the time to process the situation. If a friend or colleague is ignoring your attempts to reach out, ask yourself why. Think carefully through the conversation, and whether or not the agreement or content could have been misconstrued or taken out of context. It’s possible that your words or behavior were too much for the other person, and could be seen as intolerable.
Come to an Understanding
- Address the initial issue as an opportunity to learn and apologize
- Use the conversation to come to a mutual agreement or understand
- Allow the other person to voice their opinion and thoughts
If the conversation requires a resolution and both parties are willing to discuss, use this as an opportunity for growth and understanding. Address the issue that sparked the misunderstanding, remember to be respectful and open to another point of view. Try to reach a consensus; this will take effort from both parties. Let the other person express themselves openly and without fear of repercussions, and accept any criticism or feedback in stride.
Resolve and Move On
- Focus on learning from the experience
- Resolve any issues before proceeding
- Think of the greater good before taking action
Finally, if a resolution is reached and both persons agree to move on, try to learn and grow from the experience. Focus on the future, not the past. If there are still issues needing to be addressed, take the necessary steps to do so in a solution-focused manner. You must prioritize the health of the relationship as a whole before taking action, as people’s feelings and well-being are far more important than being right.
5. Alternatives to Conclude If You Have Been Blocked
If you’ve been blocked by someone and can’t seem to come to an agreement, there are some appropriate ways to end the conflict. Here are 5 alternatives to reaching a conclusion if you’ve been blocked:
- Remove the Block: you can choose to remove the block on your own. Doing so will show the other person that you are willing to work towards reconciliation.
- Consider Mediation: if the block has been in place for a long time, or the situation is complicated, it might be beneficial to have a third party, such as a mediator, get involved so that you can come to a resolution.
- Respect Boundaries: if the other person has clearly stated that they do not wish to talk to you, it is important to respect their wishes and refrain from trying to contact them.
- Apologize: if the conflict was caused by something you did, it is important to apologize sincerely and admit that you were wrong.
- Move On: if none of the other alternatives have been successful, the best option may be to simply move on. It is important to remember that sometimes it is better to walk away from a situation than to keep trying to resolve it.
Keep Your Cool: it is important to stay calm when faced with a conflict like this. Becoming emotional or aggressive will only make the situation worse and will not help to resolve the conflict.
Remember, there is no single surefire way to know if someone has blocked you from their story on Instagram, so if you’re ever concerned that this may have happened, the best course of action is to reach out to them and ask. It’s always important to have open communication, even when it comes to matters as minor as this.
