Social media can be a great way to collaborate, create and build relationships; however, it is important to know who can view what you post. Instagram is no exception, and when it comes to stories, you may wonder who can give their opinion and see what you post. When it comes to Instagram stories, there are certain things to consider and understand in order to be aware of who can and cannot view them. Below, we will discuss who can see Instagram stories.
1. What are Instagram Stories?
Instagram Stories are short-form videos and photos that disappear after 24 hours. Users can post multiple stories in a row, and the stories appear in a slideshow format at the top of their followers’ feeds. Below are some potential uses for Instagram Stories and how to leverage them for your business:
- Curate User-Generated Content: share inspiring content from followers that your brand can repurpose in Stories
- Run Contests and Promotions: create a fun way for your followers to engage with your brand
- Show Behind-the-Scenes Footage: give followers a peek into your company’s culture + processes
Influencers and small businesses alike are using Instagram Stories to drive website traffic and greater brand awareness. Contributors can link out to their websites and products, as well as ‘swipe up’ to send followers to a specific landing page. Additionally, Instagram stories offer a range of interactive features including the ability to add hashtags, polls, soundbites, and GIFs.
Finally, engaging with followers via Instagram stories can help to cultivate meaningful relationships with users. By responding to customer comments and feedback, you can show followers that you care about their thoughts and opinions. Implementing this type of personalized customer service can be beneficial for any business.
2. Who Can See Instagram Stories?
Once you share an Instagram Story, you can control exactly who can see it. Here’s a rundown of the different options at your disposal.
- Followers: Unless you specify otherwise, anyone you follow can see your Instagram Story.
- Close Friends: If you want to restrict access to certain people and protect your privacy, you can share your Story to a curated list of Close Friends instead.
- Direct Message Recipients: There’s also the option to share your Story to specific people you communicate with. All you need is to go to the Story camera and, before you post the story, select to share it with them via Direct Message.
Additionally, be aware that when you post a Story, Instagram will recommend it to people who it thinks would be interested in seeing your content. This follows an algorithm that identifies users with similar interests. You can also add hashtags to your Story, meaning that anyone who searches for that hashtag may be able to see it.
Finally, keep in mind that public accounts may be able to share your posts or Stories on other platforms by using the Share button. You can’t control who does this, and the person can do so without you knowing.
3. Making Instagram Stories Private
1. Adjust Story and Story Highlights Settings
To make your Instagram Stories and Story Highlights private, head to your profile page and tap the hamburger icon in the upper right corner. From the menu that appears, select Settings > Privacy > Story. On the Story Settings page, select Story Controls and take a look at the options you can configure:
- Hide My Story From
- Allow Rewind
- Allow Replays
- Allow Resharing of My Story
- Hide My Story and Story Highlights From
If you want to limit who can see your Stories and Highlights, click Hide My Story From and then choose 隨時, which translates to Everyone. This will hide them from anyone who isn’t following you. If you want only a selection of people to have access to your content, select Specific People and then choose who can see your Story and Story Highlights.
2. Restrict Commenting
If you want to protect your content even further, you can limit who can comment on your Stories. To do this, again head to your profile page and select the hamburger menu. In the menu that appears, select Settings > Privacy > Comments. On the Comment Settings screen, you’ll see two options: Comments From and Manage Individual Commenters.
- Comments From
- Manage Individual Commenters
Under Comments From, select Only People You Follow if you want to limit comments to only those who you follow. Alternatively, select Only People You Mention to receive comments from anyone you mention in your story.
3. Block or Report Comments
When someone does comment on your Stories, you might receive a comment that is inappropriate or harassing. If this happens, you can take action by blocking or reporting the user. To block or report a user, open up their comment and then press the overflow icon (the three dots) in the upper right corner.
From the options that appear, select Block User to block them from commenting on your post, or select Report Inappropriate to report them.
4. How to Block Users from Seeing Your Instagram Stories
Protecting Your Privacy With Instagram Stories
Having a strong online presence can be essential to many businesses, but you should also feel confident that your privacy is protected. With the right settings, you can block certain users from seeing your Instagram stories.
To block users who have already seen or interacted with your stories, open your story and select the menu (three dots in the bottom right corner). Then, choose ‘Story Settings’, then ‘Hide Story From’. This will reveal a list of users who have seen or interacted with your stories. Select the user you’d like to block, then tap ‘Done’. By blocking a user in this way, they won’t be able to view or interact with your stories.
To block users from seeing stories before they are even posted, open your profile and select the menu (three dots in the upper right corner). Select ‘Story Settings’, then ‘Hide Story From’. Enter the name(s) of the user(s) you’d like to block, then select ‘Block’. Adding users to this list ensures that they won’t be able to see your future stories.
To undo these changes at any time, repeat the steps above and uncheck the users you’ve blocked.
5. Managing Your Instagram Story Privacy Settings
Keep Track of Your Story Settings
So that you don’t compromise your privacy, it’s important to keep track of your Instagram Story settings. You can choose who’s able to view and interact with your story when you post it:
- Public: will allow anyone, including users who don’t follow you, to access your story.
- Close Friends: will let the people you select view and post reactions to your story.
- Custom: will allow specified people and accounts to view your story; you can also block people from viewing your story.
In addition, you can opt to make your story viewable to your followers only. To do this, go to the “story settings” page, then enter a list of usernames of people you want to restrict from seeing your story.
Aside from story settings, you can also hide stories so that no one other than you can see them. To do this, open the story and tap the “…” in the upper right corner. Then, select the “Archive” option.
Finally, something to remember is that you can block people from viewing your story without your permission. To do this, go to the “Story Settings” page, then add their username in the “block” tab. This will make it so that people you have blocked won’t be able to find your story, even if it is set to public. From celebrities to friends, it’s possible to be visible to an audience you select while sharing with Instagram Stories. Understanding who can see your Stories can help you use Instagram’s features in the best way for what you need.
