Last Updated on February 21, 2025 by Himanshu Rawat

Have you ever opened Instagram and seen a message saying, “We suspect automated behavior on your account”? It’s nothing to freak out about—it happens to a lot of people. Instagram uses systems to catch unusual activity, like if you’re liking, following, or commenting a lot really fast. When that happens, they might think a bot is controlling your account. This is a sign of Instagram automated behavior.

In this blog, we’ll break down what automatic behavior means, why you might get flagged, and what you can do to fix it. We’ll also share some tips to help you avoid getting flagged in the future.

What Does Automatic Behavior Mean?

Automatic behavior is when Instagram thinks your account is acting like a robot instead of a real person. This can happen if you’re liking a lot of posts, following or unfollowing people really fast, or commenting a ton in a short time.

It can also happen if you’re using apps or tools that do these actions for you. Instagram might think you’re trying to game the system, even if you’re just trying to grow your account.

Instagram Automated Behavior: Is It Okay to Use Automation or Bots?

It really depends on what the bot does.

Some bots break Instagram’s rules. If you use them, your account could get banned, and you don’t want that!

But not all bots are bad. Some bots help you schedule posts, and those are usually okay to use.

Bots that like, comment, or follow for you can get you in trouble. Instagram might flag your account if you use these.

As long as the bot follows Instagram’s rules, it’s probably safe to use. Just make sure it’s allowed.

To be safe, it’s best to stick with bots that follow the rules. Focus on growing your account in a real way.

Why Do Accounts Get Flagged for Automatic Behavior?

Accounts get flagged because Instagram has systems that look for unusual activity. If you’re doing things like liking or following too many people too quickly, Instagram might think it’s not a real person behind the account.

They flag accounts that look like they’re using bots or tools to act automatically instead of doing things naturally. Instagram wants to make sure everyone is following the rules and that no one is cheating to get more followers or engagement.

Types of Automated Behavior That Trigger Flags

Instagram can tell when something doesn’t seem natural on your account. If you’re using bots or automation tools, doing things too fast or in large amounts can get your account flagged. Here are some common behaviors that can lead to trouble:

1. Following or Unfollowing Too Many People at Once: If you suddenly follow or unfollow a lot of accounts in a short time, Instagram might think you’re using a bot. Real users don’t follow and unfollow people that quickly.
2. Liking and Commenting Nonstop: Bots can like or comment on a lot of posts really fast, but Instagram notices. If you’re leaving the same generic comments like “Nice!” or “Great post!” on tons of accounts, that looks suspicious.
3. Sending Too Many Messages: Using bots to send a bunch of direct messages to people isn’t a good idea. Instagram can spot this kind of behavior and it can get your account flagged.
4. Posting Too Frequently: While it’s okay to use scheduling tools, posting too often or at regular, robotic intervals can be suspicious. Instagram prefers a natural posting rhythm, so publishing every few minutes can get you flagged.
5. Watching Tons of Stories with a Bot: Some people use bots to automatically watch hundreds of Instagram Stories, hoping to get noticed. But Instagram can tell, and this behavior can get your account flagged.
6. Interacting with Fake Accounts: Bots tend to engage with fake or inactive accounts. If you’re using one, Instagram will notice that your interactions aren’t with real users, and that could lead to a flag.
7. Targeting Hashtags or Locations Automatically: Bots often like, comment, or follow users based on specific hashtags or locations. If this happens too quickly or too often, Instagram will see it as suspicious.

What Can Happen If Your Account Is Flagged?

If Instagram flags your account, a few things might happen:

• You might get temporarily blocked, so you can’t like, comment, or use some features.
• Sometimes, your posts might not be shown to as many people (this is called “shadow banning”).
• If you don’t fix it, your account could be permanently banned.

If you use your account for business, it’s important to fix the issue as soon as possible.

How to Resolve the ‘We suspect automatic behavior on your account’ Warning

If you get the “Instagram Detected Automated Behavior” warning, here’s what you can do:

• Check the Apps Linked to Your Instagram Account
  Go to your settings and see which apps are connected to your Instagram. If you don’t recognize any, remove them.
• Check Your Login Activity
  Look at the devices that have logged into your account. If you see something strange, log out of those devices.
• Change Your Password
  Change your password to kick anyone off who shouldn’t be on your account and stop any weird activity.
• Avoid Spammy Behavior
  Don’t like, follow, or comment too much too fast. Keep it slow and steady so Instagram doesn’t think you’re a bot.
• Turn Off Your VPN
  If you’re using a VPN, turn it off. It might make Instagram think something’s off with your location.
• Update Your App
  Make sure your Instagram app is up to date. An old app might cause problems.

What to Do If You’re Flagged on Other Platforms

If you’re flagged on other platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or even e-commerce sites, here’s what you can do:

• Check for Any Suspicious Activity: Look over your account to see if anything seems unusual. Maybe someone else is using your account or a mistake was made.
• Contact Customer Support: Reach out to the platform’s support team. Explain your situation and ask them to review your account. Most platforms will look into it and help clear things up.
• Follow the Rules: Make sure you’re not doing anything that might break their rules, like spamming or using automated tools.

How to Avoid Being Flagged in the Future

To avoid getting flagged again, try these tips:

• Act Naturally
  Don’t like, follow, or comment too much too quickly. Keep your activity steady, like you would normally do.
• Don’t Use Bots
  Stay away from apps or tools that automatically like or follow for you. These can get you flagged fast.
• Follow the Rules
  Always check the platform’s rules and stick to them. This helps you avoid getting into trouble.
• Keep Your Account Safe
  Make sure your login details are safe and don’t share your account with anyone. If something feels off, change your password right away.

Pro Tip for Sellers:
If you want to sell on Instagram, keep things simple and real. Use Instagram’s shopping tags to show your products, and talk to your followers like you normally would. Don’t use bots—just focus on making posts that show off your products in a natural way.

Summary

Getting the “We Suspect Automated Behavior on Your Account” warning can be a pain, but it’s not the end of the world. Just check your apps, slow down a bit, and make sure your account is secure. That’ll help fix the issue and keep it from happening again.

At the end of the day, just use Instagram like you normally would—nothing too fast or automated. If you keep it real, your account will be just fine.

FAQs on Instagram Automated Behavior

1. What is automated behavior on Instagram?

Automated behavior means using a computer or bot to do things like liking, following, or commenting instead of doing it yourself. Instagram doesn’t allow this because it wants real people to interact.

2. Why does Instagram think I’m using automated behavior?

Instagram might think you’re using a bot if you follow or like too many things very quickly. Doing too much too fast can look suspicious.

3. How can I fix automated behavior on Instagram?

To fix automated behavior on Instagram:

• Stop using bots or apps: If you’re using anything that likes or follows for you, stop using it.
• Slow down your actions: Don’t like or follow too many people too quickly.
• Change your password: This can help remove any bots connected to your account.

4. Why did Instagram suspend my account?

Instagram might suspend your account if it thinks you’re breaking the rules by using bots or doing too much too fast. This helps protect other users from spam.