you’re one of one billion active Instagram users, you are surely familiar with the platform’s numerous features, including tagging. But is there a limit to tagging on Instagram? What’s the difference between mentioning and tagging? How to gain more exposure on Instagram?

Look no further; this article will provide you with the latest information.

What Is Tagging on Instagram?

Tagging is a feature that allows you to add other Instagram users to your posts and reels. When you tag someone, they receive a notification instantly. People can see who you’ve tagged in a post simply by tapping on it. Once they do, the profiles of tagged users or pages will pop up on the post.

How to Tag Someone on Instagram?

Tagging someone on Instagram is pretty simple. You can tag someone in a new post, or you can tag them on an existing one.

Tag someone on a new post:

Tag someone on an existing post:

  • Open the Instagram appIn the upper right corner, click on the ‘+’ signClick on ‘Post’ from the menuSelect the picture/video you want to addSelect the people or pages you want to tagAdd a description (optional) Post the picture/video

Is There a Limit to Tagging on Instagram?

Unfortunately, the number of people you can tag on an Instagram post is limited. As of 2022, you can only tag 20 people per post.

  • Open the Instagram appGo to your profile Tap on the post you want to editIn the upper right corner, click on the three dotsSelect ‘Edit’Click on ‘Tag people’ in the lower-left cornerTag the people or pages that you’d likeClick on the checkmark in the upper right corner

In addition to this, there are certain Instagram tagging limitations users themselves can set. For example, some people can choose not to be tagged in posts—if you want to tag their profile, a message will pop up, saying ‘user doesn’t allow to be tagged by everyone’. 

This is usually done by public accounts and those with lots of followers or influencers. However, any user can enable this option by following these steps: 

How to Use Instagram Tagging for More Exposure

Many people use the Instagram tag option to gain more exposure on the platform. There are a few simple tricks that all influencers and celebrities use:

  • Open Instagram Click on your profileOpen ‘Settings’ Select ‘Privacy’Click on ‘Posts’Select the ‘Allow tags from’ optionYou can choose one of the three options:EveryonePeople you followNo one

  • EveryonePeople you followNo one

  • Tag people on existing postsTag people on new postsAdd location tags Add product tagsKeep your tags relevant to the topicAvoid adding too many tags (this can be considered spammy behaviour and lead to getting shadowbanned by Instagram)

What Is @Mentioning on Instagram

Mentioning on Instagram refers to entering an Instagram account’s username after typing the @ symbol. By doing that, those who click on this mention will be redirected to that account’s Instagram profile. 

You can mention people in your post descriptions and stories, but also comments on your and other users’ posts. When mentioned, they’ll receive a notification.

Here’s how you can mention Instagram users:

Mentioning someone on a new post

  • Click on the ‘+’ symbol to add a new post on InstagramChoose the photo/video/reel you want to post Select a filter (optional)Decide whether you want to tag someoneWrite a descriptionWhile writing it, type the ‘@’ symbol and the person you want to mentionPost the photo/video/reel

Mentioning someone on an existing post

  • Open the post you want to editClick on the three dots on the sideClick on ‘Edit’Change the description and add the people or pages you want to mention;Save the changes

Mentioning someone in a comment

  • Type ‘@’ and the person’s username. You can mention them in the comments on your or other users’ posts.

Mentioning someone in your Instagram story

  • Select a photo or video to share and tap the ‘Aa’ option Type @, enter the account’s username, and select the person you’d like to mentionTap ‘Done’

When someone is mentioned in your story, anyone who can see it can tap on the mention and get redirected to that user’s profile.

Tagging vs @Mentioning an Instagram Account

Although similar, these two Instagram features differ:

  • You can tag people on your posts, while mentioning is reserved for descriptions, comments, and stories.Other users can’t add tags to your posts, but they can mention users in the comments on your posts.An Instagram profile doesn’t have a separate section for mentions, but it does for tagged posts.

When it comes to their similarities, both stories and posts allow tagging/mentioning up to 20 people. In addition to this, just like people can’t add tags to your posts, they can’t mention others in your stories or descriptions (but can in the comments).

Bottom Line

Many Instagram users tag and mention other users to gain more attention on the platform. However, now that you know the answer to the question ‘is there a limit to tagging on Instagram,’ you can be careful about how many people you tag on your posts.

This can help you prevent getting shadowbanned and reported for spammy behaviour. Exposure is all about quality, not quantity.

1. How to tag people on a story?

You cannot tag people on Instagram stories; you can only mention them. To do that, just click on the ‘Aa’ icon when sharing a story, and type ‘@’ and the username of the person you want to mention.

2. How do you tag on Instagram for followers?

You can only tag people who allow being tagged. If you want to increase the number of your followers and attract a wider audience, check the ‘How to use Instagram tagging for more exposure’ section above.

3. Why does Instagram limit tagging?

Many Instagram users abuse the tagging option, which leads to spammy behaviour. To gain more control over this, Instagram sets certain limitations on how many people you can tag or mention. So, if you were wondering ‘is there a limit to tagging on Instagram’—there is.