As strong advocates for American-made products, we’ve had the simple question—”Is this made in the USA?”— this has led to restrictions on our Instagram account on three separate occasions, spaced months apart. Oddly, each time we’ve asked this simple question, we were restricted from commenting or liking any posts for a period of time. So, what’s causing this?
Instagram’s moderation system is known for using a combination of AI and human reviewers to enforce its community guidelines. While these systems are designed to maintain a safe and civil environment, we have experienced firsthand how they can sometimes malfunction or overreact. Let’s take a look at why asking about something being made in the USA could trigger such a response.
Possible Reasons for the Restrictions
- Overactive Automated Systems: Instagram relies heavily on AI to monitor and moderate activity on the platform. Phrases like “Made in the USA” might inadvertently trigger their algorithm if they’re associated with sensitive topics or flagged keywords. This could explain why a seemingly harmless question led to account restrictions—even if we had no intent to stir controversy.
- Misinterpretation as Political Content: The phrase “Made in the USA” has sometimes been linked to political discussions. Despite our focus on supporting domestic manufacturing, Instagram’s algorithms may interpret this phrase as politically charged or divisive. Unfortunately, this could lead to temporary restrictions, even though our intentions are purely about promoting American products.
- Spam Detection Errors: Instagram’s system is designed to detect repetitive comments or behavior that resembles spam. If you frequently ask about the origin of products, Instagram might misinterpret this as inauthentic or spammy activity, even when the questions are spread out over time. This could explain why we’ve faced account restrictions, despite asking on different occasions.
- Problems with User Reports: It’s possible that some users misinterpret our questions as combative or political, leading them to report our comments. Even a few reports could trigger an automatic restriction or review by Instagram’s moderation team. Unfortunately, context may be lost in the process, leading to restrictions that seem unfair.
The Frustration with the Appeal Process
Adding to the frustration is the fact that the appeal process didn’t work for us. After trying to inform Instagram that they made a mistake, the system didn’t allow us to submit the appeal. This left us unable to lift the restrictions, limiting our ability to comment or engage with other posts for extended periods.
Moving Forward
While the situation is frustrating, we’re determined to continue supporting American-made products. Here are a few things we’ve learned that might help avoid future restrictions:
- Rephrase the Question: Consider asking in a different way. Instead of “Is this made in the USA?” try, “I’m interested in the origin of this product—can you share more about it?”
- Limit Frequency: Even though our queries have been spaced out, it’s still worth being cautious about posting similar comments too often, as Instagram’s algorithm may misinterpret repetitive engagement.
- Engage Thoughtfully: When possible, try to vary the way you interact with posts and comments to avoid being flagged for repetitive behavior.
Conclusion
Being restricted for asking about American-made products has been an unexpected challenge. But we remain committed to our mission, and we’ll keep working to navigate Instagram’s policies while supporting American manufacturing. Hopefully, by sharing our experience, we can bring more awareness to this issue and help others avoid the same frustrating outcomes.
I can speculate about other reasons, but I will leave those up to the readers. You could give it a go yourself. When you see an ad for a product, ask “where is it made or is it made in the USA?” Maybe it’s just us.
