What hidden means on Instagram
You know how Instagram treats a hidden comment, and how it differs from Facebook.
On this page
Before you start
- The author still sees their own comment.
- Instagram's own filters can hide comments first.
- Those arrive labelled as hidden outside the app.
Hide an Instagram comment.
The hide icon, on an Instagram comment
You will see It leaves the public view of the post.
Recognise what Instagram hid.
The hidden, outside the app chip
You will see It says the platform did it, not your rules.
If something is off
- My rules did not catch it but it is hidden
- Instagram's own filter caught it; adjust it there.
- Unhiding did nothing
- A platform-hidden comment may need unhiding there.
- Is it the same as Facebook
- On Facebook their friends see it too.
Common questions
Does the person know when their Instagram comment is hidden?
No. Instagram says the person who sent it will not know. They still see their own comment; other people do not.
What does the chip hidden outside the app mean on an Instagram comment?
That Instagram hid it, not your rules: either Instagram's own Hidden Words filter or someone in the Instagram app. It stops you looking for a rule that does not exist.
Do hidden comments still count in my Instagram comment total?
Yes. Instagram says hidden comments are still included in your total comment count. A comment hidden by hand on Instagram is visible only to you and the person who made it, and Instagram lists them under View hidden comments.
For agents: plain text of this guide · all guides
For agents
Guide: What hidden means on Instagram
This page: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/platforms/what-hidden-means-on-instagram
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 Instagram treats a hidden comment, and how it differs from Facebook.
Context: On Instagram, a hidden comment is removed from view for everyone except the person who wrote it. Instagram also has its own word filters, and comments they catch arrive here marked as hidden outside the app.
Before you start
1. The author still sees their own comment; other people do not.
2. Instagram's own Hidden Words filter can hide comments before CommentWatchDog sees them.
3. A comment hidden by Instagram itself is labelled as hidden outside the app.
Steps
Step 1 of 2: Hide an Instagram comment.
Where: The hide icon in the inbox, on a comment from an Instagram account.
Link: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/inbox (Open the inbox)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/inbox-hidden-ig.en.webp (A hidden Instagram comment.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/inbox-hidden-ig-phone.en.webp (The same on a phone.)
You should see: The comment leaves the public view of the post.
Step 2 of 2: Recognise what Instagram hid.
Where: A chip reading hidden outside the app means Instagram own filters or someone in the Instagram app did it, not your rules.
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/inbox-hidden-ig.en.webp (Hidden, outside the app: Instagram hid it.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/inbox-hidden-ig-phone.en.webp (The same on a phone.)
You should see: A distinction that stops you looking for a rule that does not exist.
If something is off
Problem: My rules did not catch it but it is hidden
Fix: Instagram's Hidden Words filter caught it first. Adjust that in the Instagram app if you want it visible.
Problem: Unhiding did nothing
Fix: A comment hidden by Instagram own filters may need to be unhidden there.
Problem: Is it the same as Facebook
Fix: Almost. On Facebook the author friends also see it; on Instagram it is the author alone.
Common questions
Question: Does the person know when their Instagram comment is hidden?
Answer: No. Instagram says the person who sent it will not know. They still see their own comment; other people do not.
Question: What does the chip hidden outside the app mean on an Instagram comment?
Answer: That Instagram hid it, not your rules: either Instagram's own Hidden Words filter or someone in the Instagram app. It stops you looking for a rule that does not exist.
Question: Do hidden comments still count in my Instagram comment total?
Answer: Yes. Instagram says hidden comments are still included in your total comment count. A comment hidden by hand on Instagram is visible only to you and the person who made it, and Instagram lists them under View hidden comments.
Related guides
What hidden means on Facebook: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/platforms/what-hidden-means-on-facebook
Hide, unhide and undo: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/inbox/hide-unhide-and-undo
Which rule caught a comment: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/moderation-rules/which-rule-caught-a-comment
Plain text of this guide: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/platforms/what-hidden-means-on-instagram.md
All guides for assistants: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/llms.txt