Source : Instagram
A big part of trust between social media platforms and creators is built on transparency, making Instagram's latest update to its 'Account Status' feature important.
For the last year, creators with Professional Accounts could see which photos or videos they have posted that have been taken down. Now, they can also see whether their content is eligible to appear in recommendations like Explore other places where the platform surfaces content to non-followers (e.g., Reels, Feed Recommendations, etc.).
In scenarios where their content isn't eligible, they can see examples of content or components of their profile, such as their profile photo or bio, that violate Instagram's Recommendations Guidelines and most importantly, the opportunity to fix it. Creators can edit or delete content that goes against guidelines or appeal the decision directly in-app if they believe Instagram made it in error.
To give creators more insight and understanding of issues impacting their reach with non-followers, Instagram plans to expand 'Account Status' to encompass other experiences across the platform, such as Search and Suggested Accounts, in the future.
Instagram’s move seems to have inspired Twitter as CEO Elon Musk announced Twitter is also “working on a software update that will show your true account status, so you know clearly if you’ve been shadowbanned, the reason why and how to appeal.”
"Shadow banning" has been a long-discussed topic among creators, so this latest news should catch creators' attention. With algorithm-powered recommendations playing a significant role in how creators grow their audience, it will become the norm for social media platforms to provide creators with transparency on the standing of their accounts.
