Aren’t people supposed to have proper usernames on Instagram? If yes, then what happened to your friend’s username? What is Instagram user in messages even supposed to mean?? Because that is what you’re getting to see instead of the actual username of your friend.
Well, the matter does seem to be a bit concerning. You need to find out what is up with Instagram showing you this instead of the actual names of people. And no, you don’t have to scramble around on the internet trying to decode the meaning.
Because this article is going to be all about it, by the time we reach the bottom of it, you will know what does Instagram user in messages means. And so, if this sounds like an ideal plan, make sure that you’re scrolling to the very bottom of this article.
In This Article
Find Out What Does Instagram User In Messages Mean Here!
Now, as mysterious as the whole thing seems on the surface, the way out of it is actually quite simple. There are a few different things that Instagram user in messages can mean. Some of the most common ones are mentioned below:
- The other person has deleted their Instagram account.
- The account has been temporarily deactivated
- Instagram has banned their account.
- The person in question has blocked you.
Although there are all these possible case scenarios, you still need to figure out which one actually fits your friend’s account. Doing this can seem a bit daunting on the surface, but it actually isn’t.
You keep scrolling through this article, and you will get to look at all of these things in a bit more detail. And then, you will be able to figure out which of these situations actually fit. This will, in turn, help you figure out the meaning of Instagram user in messages.
Meaning 1: The Account Has Been Deleted
One of the top reasons why you’re getting Instagram user in messages is because the other person has deleted their Instagram account. Because of this, not only will you not get to see their Instagram username, but their profile picture is going to be blank as well.
On top of this, when you actually go to their Instagram profile, you will not get to see any followers or the following count. If their feed was previously filled with pictures, it is going to be entirely blank now. When you press the follow button, it won’t change to “Requested” or “Following” (depending on their account type– public or private). Instead, it will stay “Follow” only.
If you try sending a message to an Instagram account as such, it is not going to be delivered. You may or may not be able to see earlier chats as well.
Meaning 2: The Account Has Been Deactivated
Another common reason why you may get to see Instagram User in messages is quite similar to the previous one. It is because the account in question has been temporarily deactivated. This is usually done when the other person wants to take a break from the app.
In this case as well, the username and profile picture will have disappeared. Furthermore, you’re not going to get to see anything on their profile page either. Nothing will happen when you press the blue follow button.
However, the only difference here is that even though your friend’s profile page shows “Instagram User” instead of their username right now, it is not going to be like that forever. Whenever your friend decides to reactivate their Instagram account, you will get to see their username again.
Meaning 3: Instagram Has Banned The Account
Another reason why you may be seeing Instagram User in messages instead of someone’s username is that the other person has gotten their account banned by Instagram. Getting a ban on Instagram is similar to having your account deleted. So everything that happens when an account is deleted applies here, too.
Instagram welcomes everyone to make an account on the platform and provides them with its best features so that their experience is worthwhile. However, just like any other social media platform, Instagram also has a set of rules and guidelines that it wants its users to adhere to. Those who violate the guidelines of the app end up getting their account banned.
This means in case your friend’s account or content violated Instagram rules and community guidelines, Instagram took action against it. In some cases, the ban is reversible; in most cases, it isn’t. So, your friend may or may not get their account back.
Meaning 4: The Other Person Has Blocked You
Lastly, you may be getting to see Instagram User in messages because the person you’re chatting with has blocked your account. And because of this, Instagram is not going to show you anything about their account— not even their username. Instead, you’re only going to see “Instagram User.”
Also, given the ambiguity around people deleting/ deactivating their accounts and blocking other people, you need to be sure if you have actually been blocked. To be sure of the same, try searching for this person’s account using that of your other friends.
In case you can access this person’s profile from the other account and not yours, then it is likely that they have blocked you. However, if you can’t access their Instagram account from either of the accounts, then it means that they have actually deactivated/ deleted their account.
Wrapping Up
Okay then, everyone! This is what does Instagram users in messages mean. Having Instagram show you this instead of someone’s proper username can be quite concerning, right? But well, no more. Now that you’ve looked at four different reasons why you may get to see this, I hope you will be able to figure out the mystery behind your friend’s absence. But in case you still have any doubts, please feel free to mention them in the comments and I will be happy to guide you further!
Why does Instagram say user not found when I log in?
If Instagram says “User not found” when you try to log in, then it can be because the username you’re trying to enter is incorrect.
Does user not found mean you’re blocked on Instagram?
User not found can mean that you’ve been blocked by the other person, but it isn’t the only possible case scenario.
