Instagram restricts visibility of follower lists for Iran-based accounts
Latest news on WhatsApp أجدد الأخبار على واتسابMedia reports say Instagram, owned by Meta, has started restricting the visibility of followers and following lists for accounts the platform identifies as being located in Iran, as a privacy measure aimed at reducing risks linked to network mapping and user targeting.
Iran International reported on January 18, 2026 that accounts detected as Iran-based no longer display followers or following lists. The change follows security warnings: Cloudflare’s threat-intelligence unit Cloudforce One said it observed Iranian authorities targeting Instagram accounts using tools capable of bulk extraction of follower networks and account activity.
Meta has not issued a detailed public statement clarifying the scope or duration of the restriction, but the move may affect creators and businesses while increasing privacy protections in a high-risk environment
