Until 2021, Instagram has amassed more than one billion users worldwide, making it one of the top social media platforms in the world. Launched in 2010, Instagram has been around for over a decade, making several brand changes, changing its news feed algorithms, and adding new features.
However, as its users have grown steadily over the years, Instagram is also grappling with its own problems, including blank profiles that no longer exist on the interactive platform at all inactive accounts.
How to Claim Instagram username?
While Instagram does not provide exactly the exact criteria for it, inactive accounts are accounts that have been abandoned for a long time or left unused.
According to a 2015 study, 30% of Instagram users are inactive. That number may have changed over the years, but the fact is that passive accounts are more than most people think. While posts and profile pictures may be available, inactive accounts do not really add much value to Instagram in the form of posts, stories, circles, or interactions with other accounts.
There are many reasons to deactivate Instagram accounts. Sometimes, this is because users lose access to their accounts and cannot find their way. Sometimes, it may be because users no longer want to use social media, their business has closed, or they have decided to change their brand. Online identity
Although there is no exact number, it is safe to say that there are thousands (if not millions) of inactive Instagram accounts today. Is it possible to own one of them?
Can you Claim your Instagram username?
In most cases, you cannot claim an inactive Instagram account. One reason is that not all accounts that appear to be inactive are actually inactive. Sometimes, people still use direct messages to talk to their friends or navigate without interacting through likes or comments. For this reason, it is difficult at first glance to determine which accounts actually match the inactive definition.
However, Instagram may give privileges to identifiable individuals and businesses that have trademarks when claiming truly inactive accounts. For this to happen, you can submit a report that indicates a trademark forgery or trademark infringement. To prove your identity or ownership of a recognizable brand, you must provide official and legal documents, such as government IDs and patents.
At the time of filing the report, the forgery account will not be notified unless intellectual property issues are involved. Note that Instagram only responds to reports submitted by an impersonator or legal guardian.
How to register an identity forgery report on Instagram Online
Even if you do not currently have an active Instagram account, you can still try to identify yourself. Visit the Instagram Help Center to submit a report of identity fraud.
There, you will be asked to select the best mode. At the time of writing, you can opt from four options:
1. Someone created an account for my business or organization
2. Someone created an account pretending to be me or a friend
3. Someone created an account that pretended to be someone I represent (for example, my child)
4. I cannot log in to my old account
Once selected, Instagram shows you the steps you need to follow for each of the options to prove your claim. After providing the necessary support documents, Instagram may be able to transfer its username to you.
Keep in mind that this trend is still under investigation. At the end of the day, it’s up to Instagram to decide if you should be allowed to claim a deactivated account name.
Alternative ways to claim the Instagram username
If the claim of an inactive Instagram account is off the table, here are some things you can do instead.
With over one billion people on Instagram, it is almost impossible to secure your ideal username. While it is unfortunate that you cannot always get your ideal IG handle, changes can still be made that are close enough. Instead of “janedoe”, you can use numbers to simulate letters such as “janed0e”, “j4n3d03” or “janedo3”.
Add courses or sublines
If for branding reasons you really need to have a specific name in your Instagram category, you can add a dot or underline next to it, such as “jane.doe”, “janedoe_” or “jane_doe”. When using this method, be sure to use at most one line below. Because, unless you want to be somewhat anonymous, underlines make it difficult for people to guess the number used.
Use titles
If your Instagram is used for business reasons, you can use titles to help figure out what your account is about. For example, if you are a physician who regularly posts medical content, you could call yourself “DocJaneDoe” or “JaneDoeMD”.
Approve Instagram
If you are a public figure and find out that an inactive account is forging your identity, you can ask Instagram to confirm you. This will help your file when claiming an inactive Instagram username. Also, if you have an official trademark for your name, this may work.
To be eligible for verification, your account must be public, with a resume, profile photo and at least one post. You also need to prove that you or your brand is real, unique and significant. Officially, Instagram takes up to 30 days to verify your account for verification.
If you want to request confirmation, go to Settings> Account> Verification request. After confirmation, you can contact Instagram about your concerns. We hope it is easier to claim a deactivated username with a blue check.
Claim Instagram username by your social status
Over time, new social media platforms emerge, encouraging people to move towards them. As a result, your ideal username may suddenly be disabled. With enough social proof, you can probably take it home.
However, it is always good to remember that when it comes to Instagram, you are more than just a username. While a good username can help people remember you, the quality and consistency of your content is just as important as building your personal brand.
Whether claiming your identity or trying to establish yourself as a public figure, there are many reasons why you might want to claim an inactive account. Instagram has a history of helping users, especially when the account has been inactive for a long time.
In conclusion
As mentioned above in this article, we told you how to recover your forgotten Instagram username. The best way to avoid this issue is to write it somewhere safe.
