Instagram bans

pate-ci0

"People who breach terms and conditions are punished when their breach is detected. That is not "unfairly targeted" by any rational definition."

The problem is that we are not breaching the terms and conditions but still being penalised for perfectly valid comments when replying to competitions. Posting competitions may be a breach but replying is not. I was suspended, complained, went through the process of validating, phone number, selfie and was quickly assured that they had got it wrong and I had adhered to their standards.

"We've reviewed your account and found that the activity on it does follow our Community Standards on spam, so you can use Instagram again.

We're sorry that we've got this wrong and that you weren't able to use Instagram for a while."

We have a problem because their AI algorithms are incorrectly programmed and target compers who adhere to the rules but probably miss many posts from folk who do not. If it is against the rules to post competitions, then those accounts should be banned, not us. Despite being validated and assured by my status that I had full functionality on Instagram, I still could not post for 3 days. Since then, I have now been frozen again from commenting until the 10th despite only entering half a dozen comps.

StarTrix

"People who breach terms and conditions are punished when their breach is detected. That is not "unfairly targeted" by any rational definition.'"

Verified users who use their accounts as business ventures, and with substantial followings, aren't banned after repeated tagging and/or comments, as seen in the screen record posted. Clearly there is some unfairness going on somewhere along the line. They attract a far bigger audience than I ever will. If they are banned, they lose out and so do Instagram/Meta.

I'm banned again after being unable to post for three days as my first comment back was detected as spam (three tags for it to be an eligible entry and I did them in one comment, not separately). I took my "punishment" and now I'm punished for another three days. That's fair to you?

Freelikeabird

This Instagram issue is people deliberately breaking the terms and conditions

You keep popping back to this thread and banging on about people breaking terms and conditions, but as posted above, people are getting banned for literally leaving relevant, positive comments with no tags on non-competition posts. A search of Reddit shows people have been banned for congratulating friends on new jobs and all sorts. It's an issue with their auto-banning system. I even got an email after appeal saying that nothing I had posted went against their community guidelines (can't remember exact wording), but it doesn't lift the erroneous ban.

Also, in reference to tags being against their T&Cs - the photo someone posted earlier (which is from Meta themselves) actually suggests having people tag two friends in a competition post. If they really have an issue with tags then why do they allow them at all? Surely the easiest option is to just prevent anyone from being able to tag anyone in comments (could even be extended to posts if required)

lottiegirl

on my 3rd ban this month ! Ive taken to sending polite messages to the different company's websites customer services /contact us pages asking them to consider doing competitions in a different way due to these bans on insta - probably won't make any difference but we will see.

mclarkie

lottiegirl said:

on my 3rd ban this month ! Ive taken to sending polite messages to the different company's websites customer services /contact us pages asking them to consider doing competitions in a different way due to these bans on insta - probably won't make any difference but we will see.

I have doing the same through the PM messenger. 

annat

I have just started yet another ban after a few tags spread over 24 hours, hey ho!! I even tried a couple of companies with the suggested message. We will see if I get any response. I get the comment about raising an issue with who? Meta? waste of time, sadly. You would probably be deleted for complaining. 
Reading through, I could/would not compare to the whole Horizon debacle. However, I do agree with how some people feel, that some appear to get away with pages of tags and others hardly any? I know the rules will be changing, but in the meanwhile, reporting those who get away with it, feels a little uncomfortable with the spirit of things. Don't know how others feel? I personally have reduced entries so much, I will be completely gobsmacked if I end up winning anything  

StarTrix

My backup had been restricted for 24 hours. I've given it a go: One tag, good. Tried a second, not good. Restricted again. 

CloWithTheFlow23

Finally got let back in today, after a few hours, some genuine Insta use, a few comments and maybe a dozen comps am back on a 3 day ban.... ho hum.

Am staying thankful for the few extra comps I'm able to enter in between times.

I'm refusing to let it all wind me up. Comping is a point of joy for me and no stupid platform or its AI is going to take that away from me!

annat

gdmoney said:

annat said:

So just avoided a suspended account again and this will be my third, 3 day ban in 2 weeks!! Restricted on Facebook too for the last 24 hours!!! What the actual? Has our lovely Martin ever raised this one? it would be so appreciated

Raised it with who?

Meta? but waste of time. I have tried on their feedback surveys to no avail. Any messages to Meta, would be read by AI and I would have to appeal again

Freelikeabird

annat said:

I have just started yet another ban after a few tags spread over 24 hours, hey ho!! I even tried a couple of companies with the suggested message. We will see if I get any response. I get the comment about raising an issue with who? Meta? waste of time, sadly. You would probably be deleted for complaining. 
Reading through, I could/would not compare to the whole Horizon debacle. However, I do agree with how some people feel, that some appear to get away with pages of tags and others hardly any? I know the rules will be changing, but in the meanwhile, reporting those who get away with it, feels a little uncomfortable with the spirit of things. Don't know how others feel? I personally have reduced entries so much, I will be completely gobsmacked if I end up winning anything  

If the reporting was in reference to my comment - I wondered if people were already doing that to those of us who got banned, and then tongue in cheek suggested we report the *companies* who are posting the competitions, since they're the ones asking for the tags! It was never a suggestion to report other compers.