On Instagram, a temporary restriction can be placed on an account’s ability to initiate new follow requests. This limitation, commonly encountered by users, prevents them from adding new accounts to their following list for a specific duration. For example, an individual might find that after rapidly following a large number of accounts, the platform prevents further follow actions for a period ranging from a few hours to several days.
This safeguard is implemented to maintain platform integrity and discourage behaviors deemed to be spam or abuse. It protects the user experience by hindering the proliferation of unsolicited follows and helps preserve a genuine community atmosphere. Historically, the imposition of such restrictions has evolved in response to increasingly sophisticated methods of automated or inauthentic account activity.