Guide: No blocking on Instagram through the API
This page: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/platforms/no-blocking-on-instagram-through-the-api
Topic: How Facebook and Instagram behave
Time: about 2 minutes
Who can do it: Anyone on your team
Author: https://anantgupta.xyz (Anant Gupta, founder of CommentWatchDog)
Start in the app: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/inbox
Result when done: You know how to stop a difficult person on Instagram when blocking is not offered here.
Context: Blocking is a Facebook Page action. Meta does not offer it to apps for Instagram accounts, so the block control is a Facebook one. Muting is ours and works everywhere.

Before you start:
1. Muting works on both platforms: their future comments arrive hidden.
2. Blocking through CommentWatchDog is a Facebook Page action.
3. You can block on Instagram yourself, in the Instagram app.

Steps:
Step 1 of 2: Mute the author instead.
Where: The author controls under the comment, then Mute. Everything they write from then on arrives hidden, labelled Muted author.
Link: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/inbox (Open the inbox)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/inbox.en.webp (More, on the row: Mute the author.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/inbox-longpress-phone.en.webp (Mute, in the phone sheet.)
You should see: Their future comments arrive hidden without anyone being told.

Step 2 of 2: Block on Instagram if you need to.
Where: Open the comment on Instagram from the row, then block the account there.
You should see: The account is blocked at the platform level.

If something is off:
Problem: Bulk block did nothing on Instagram comments
Fix: Blocking applies to Facebook authors. Mute them instead, which works on both.
Problem: Is muting as good
Fix: For your audience, yes: nobody sees their comments. They can still post, and you still see it.

Common questions:
Question: Is the person told when I mute them?
Answer: No. Their future comments arrive hidden without anyone being told, labelled Muted author, and muting works on both Facebook and Instagram.
Question: Where do I find Mute on a phone versus a desktop?
Answer: On a phone it is in the sheet that opens on the comment; on a desktop it is under More on the row, in the author controls under the comment.
Question: Does muting hide comments the person already posted?
Answer: No. Muting covers what they write from then on: every future comment arrives hidden, labelled Muted author.
Question: Can I block someone on Instagram at all?
Answer: Yes, in the Instagram app. Open the comment on Instagram from the row and block the account there; it is blocked at the platform level. Through CommentWatchDog, blocking is a Facebook Page action.

Related guides:
- Mute or block an author: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/inbox/mute-or-block-an-author
- No like on Instagram comments: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/platforms/no-like-on-instagram-comments
- Act on many comments at once: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/inbox/act-on-many-comments-at-once

Plain text of this guide: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/platforms/no-blocking-on-instagram-through-the-api.md
All guides for assistants: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/llms.txt