The rules, etiquette and technical how-to of reposting on Instagram
If you’re thinking about taking a screenshot of someone’s photo and reposting on Instagram, then you should do know:
- what Instagram copyright rules say about doing it,
- the reposting etiquette of the Instagram community,
- and that there’s a better way of reposting on Instagram than screenshotting a photo and uploading it.
Let’s dive into the most frequently asked questions I get about reposting on Instagram!
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Is reposting on Instagram allowed?
In short, reposting on Instagram is allowed when done legally!
You’re probably already aware of this because of the many repost and user-generated content accounts currently on the platform.
However, language from Instagram’s Community Guidelines cautions users to “share only photos and videos that you’ve taken or have the right to share.”
This is because images on Instagram are copyrighted by the user who uploaded the original content.
Thus, even if you tag the account you reposted the photo from, you could still deal with Instagram copyright infringement.
As a result, reposting someone else’s photo or video on Instagram is ok when done the right way.
For more details, check out this post on Instagram copyright rules.
Do I need to ask for permission to repost on Instagram?
In short, you should definitely ask permission to repost.
From user behavior, it seems that most people are quite happy to get their photos reposted on Instagram without getting permission as long as they are clearly tagged in both the caption and in the photo itself.
However, if you want to avoid any Instagram copyright infringement issues, then asking for permission before you repost a photo on Instagram is the best route to take.
How to ask for permission to repost on Instagram
There are three ways to get permission to repost.
The first way is to simply message the Instagram influencer whose photo you want to use. Most people will respond quite quickly since they’re happy to get their photo reposted.
The second way is by commenting on their picture and asking for their response or adding a hashtag to their photo that acts as a yes.
A great example of this is by @andotherstories.
They saw that I tagged them in a post with their dress on so to get permission to repost my image on their feed, they asked me to respond to their comment with a less commonly used hashtag of theirs #meandotherstories (they advertise the hashtag #andotherstories on their profile but not this one).
The third way not the most legal but popular way is to tell your followers to use your hashtag for a chance to get reposted.
Technically, someone using your hashtag doesn’t constitute as express permission to use their content so could fall under copyright infringement.
But many Instagrammers and repost accounts follow this method often such as @darlingescapes who reposts user-generated content from the hashtag #darlingescapes.
An Extra Cautious Note: In the worst case scenario, if someone granted you permission to repost their image, but then deleted a comment or message, they could report the image you reported to Instagram as copyright infringement.
The likelihood of this happening is quite low but if you’re the extra cautious type like me, then you could take screenshots of the yes’ you get.
How do I repost on Instagram?
There are two ways to share someone else’s post on Instagram: by reposting on your Instagram page or sharing it to your stories.
To repost a photo to your Instagram page:
- Download the app Repost.(There are a lot of repost apps but I personally like this one. You can do a lot for free.)
- Go to the photo you want to repost in Instagram and tap on the three dots in the top right corner.
- Hit ‘Copy link’.
- Open up the Repost app, and the Instagram image you want to copy should appear.
- Tap on the image in the Repost app.
- Choose whether or not you want an Attribution mark or Copy caption, then hit Share.
To repost a photo to your Instagram stories:
- Go to the Instagram image that you want to share to your stories.
- Click on the Arrow underneath the image (3rd button from the left).
- Click ‘Add post to your story’.
- Share your story.
How do I repost videos on Instagram?
Reposting videos on Instagram is the same as reposting a photo with the Repost app. Here’s how:
- Download the app Repost.(There are a lot of repost apps but I personally like this one. You can do a lot for free.)
- Go to the photo you want to repost in Instagram and tap on the three dots in the top right corner.
- Hit ‘Copy link’.
- Open up the Repost app, and the Instagram image you want to copy should appear.
- Tap on the image in the Repost app.
- Choose whether or not you want an Attribution mark or Copy caption, then hit Share.
Hope this post helped you with reposting a photo or video on Instagram! Comment below if it helped you out or you still have questions.
Want to stay in touch? Find me on Instagram or TikTok and definitely feel free to ask me anything in our free blogging help group.
Chat soon!
~ Sarah
INSTAGRAM RESOURCES
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Was this helpful? Please share the wealth on:
JH
Wednesday 24th of February 2021
Do not use the Repost app, or any other similar apps, as described here.
While the Repost app may quickly add in “credit” and a URL, this attribution does not replace the need for permission from the copyright holder.
You are still using someone else’s image, and without their expressed permission you are infringing on their copyright. Using an app like Repost to do the dirty work for you does not change this.
Additionally, re-posting content without permission from the copyright holder goes against Instagram's Terms of Service (and the Terms of Service for every social media and image sharing website, in accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, or DMCA) and could result in the suspension or even the termination of your account.
Sarah Chetrit
Thursday 25th of February 2021
I agree! I mentioned this first thing in the article about Instagram's Terms of Service. It is not allowed without express permission but still wanted to give people an option if they choose to go ahead and do it. Thanks for your insight.
Leslie
Sunday 26th of July 2020
Nice Article Sarah :). I don't know how to use Instagram to share and communicate with people, but I will try my best. Also will check the app you advise. Xo, Leslie