At Lillian Purge we specialise in local SEO services and we have written this article to help businesses understand exactly what the Restrict feature on Instagram does, how it works and why it can be an essential tool for managing interactions professionally.

When I speak to people about Instagram privacy tools the feature that many still misunderstand is Restrict. In my opinion Restrict is one of the most useful tools Instagram has introduced because it gives you control over negative interactions without the drama of blocking or unfollowing someone. I cannot even put into words how many times I’ve seen an amazing piece of content on instagram only to find it has been absolutely hammered in the comments section by the much loved keyboard warriors!

If you ever feel uncomfortable with what someone is saying on your posts or you want to quietly limit someone’s behaviour, Restrict is the ideal option.

Below is a simple breakdown of what Restrict actually does, how it works, what the restricted user sees and when you should use it.

What Restrict Actually Does on Instagram

Restrict is a privacy feature that quietly limits how someone can interact with you. It is designed to protect users from unwanted comments or uncomfortable conversations without alerting the other person.

When you restrict someone:

• Their comments on your posts become hidden from everyone except them

• You can choose to approve or delete their comments without them knowing

• Their messages go into your Message Request folder not your main inbox

• They cannot see when you are online

• They cannot see if you have read their messages

In my opinion Restrict is a softer, more discreet alternative to blocking. It protects your space without creating conflict.

What the Restricted Person Sees

This is where Restrict is clever. The person you restrict is not notified and cannot tell that anything has changed.

From their point of view:

• Their comments still appear normally to themselves

• They cannot see that their comment is hidden from others

• Their messages still send as normal

• They do not know their messages land in your requests

• They cannot see your activity status

• They cannot see read receipts

This makes Restrict a silent boundary. You gain control without drawing attention to it.

What You See After Restricting Someone

You gain several extra controls:

1. Hidden comments

You will see their comment marked as restricted. You can:

• approve it

• delete it

• ignore it

They will never know which option you choose.

2. Message filtering

Their direct messages no longer appear in your main inbox. They are moved to Message Requests which lets you read them quietly without marking them as seen.

3. Reduced visibility for them

They cannot see your activity status and cannot tell when you are online.

In my opinion the biggest advantage is comment control. It allows you to protect your posts from negativity without confrontation.

When You Should Use Restrict

Restrict is designed for situations where you want distance without escalation.

It is ideal for:

Mild harassment or passive aggressive behaviour

If someone is being negative but you do not want to block them.

Unwanted attention

If someone comments too much or sends uncomfortable messages.

Avoiding arguments

If you prefer to reduce contact quietly rather than confronting the person.

Protecting your brand image

For business accounts you can restrict people who leave unhelpful or inappropriate comments without making it obvious.

Managing sensitive relationships

Family members, colleagues or acquaintances where blocking would create tension.

In my opinion Restrict is perfect when you want to protect your space while keeping the peace.

Restrict vs Block vs Mute

To make things clearer here is how Restrict compares.

Restrict

• Soft boundary

• They can still follow you

• Comments are hidden

• DMs move to requests

• They cannot see status

• They do not know they are restricted

Block

• Hard boundary

• They cannot find your profile

• They cannot message you

• They cannot comment

• They know something changed

Mute

• You stop seeing their posts or stories

• They can still interact with you

• Does not stop comments or DMs

• They will not know they are muted

In my opinion Restrict is the most tactful option because it stops the behaviour not the person.

How to Restrict Someone on Instagram

You can restrict someone in three ways.

Method 1: Through their profile

1. Go to their profile

2. Tap the three dots

3. Select Restrict

Method 2: Through a comment they left

1. Swipe left on their comment

2. Tap the exclamation mark

3. Tap Restrict

Method 3: Through your settings

1. Go to your profile

2. Tap Menu

3. Tap Settings

4. Go to Privacy

5. Tap Restricted Accounts

6. Add the user

Unrestricting someone is just as simple.

What Happens to Old Comments After Restricting?

Old comments stay visible unless you manually hide or delete them. Restrict only affects new comments automatically.

You can still go back and remove older comments if needed.

Does the Restricted Person Know They Are Restricted?

No. This is the main purpose of the feature. Instagram designed Restrict so that the person has no indication anything changed.

Their comment displays normally on their screen.
Their messages send normally.
They do not see lack of visibility.

This allows you to manage your boundaries privately.

Why I Believe Restrict Is Useful for Small Businesses

For small businesses on Instagram customer perception matters. Your comments section reflects your brand. Negative or spammy users can harm your reputation if left visible.

Restrict allows you to:

• hide disruptive comments

• avoid public arguments

• review comments before allowing them

• protect your team’s mental wellbeing

• maintain a clean and professional feed

Unlike blocking, Restrict avoids provoking someone who may become angry publicly. It is subtle and effective.

Bringing Everything Together

When I look at everything Restrict offers I genuinely believe it is one of the most underrated Instagram tools. It protects you from negativity without confrontation. It filters unwanted messages quietly. It allows you to control your comment section without harming engagement. It is perfect for personal accounts and even better for business accounts that need to protect their reputation.

In my opinion Restrict is ideal when you want to keep things calm and professional while maintaining full control over who can influence your space.

If you want to take your Instagram strategy even further we have also written guides on how to target local customers with Instagram Ads and how to use hashtags to boost local reach on Instagram. Alongside these resources we have a full section on our website dedicated to helping businesses get more from Instagram, with practical advice you can apply straight away.