How to Post Sensitive Content on Your Instagram Story or Profile

Download Article

Easily warn friends about upcoming posts and videos

Written by Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: May 2, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

Creating a Warning Image

|

Posting on Your Feed

|

Posting to Your Story

|

Other Ways

|

Video

|

Tips

If you've been using Instagram, you've likely noticed blurred-out posts marked as "Sensitive Content." This usually means someone has reported the post as upsetting, or that the algorithm thinks it's a sensitive subject. Instagram marks these posts as "Sensitive" to allow users to click through to the actual post. Although you can't enable "Sensitive Content" on one of your posts yourself, we found a great way to share potentially upsetting, triggering, NSFW (not safe for work), and even spoiler material in a similarly considerate way. This wikiHow shows you how to use a warning image to share sensitive photos or videos on Instagram without upsetting your followers.

Adding a Sensitive Content Warning on Instagram

Blurred "Sensitive Content Warning" images are added automatically by the algorithm—you can't toggle the feature on yourself. The best alternative is to create your own content warning image using the Instagram story editor, then make the image the first one in your slideshow post, or the first post in your story.

Section 1 of 4:

Creating a Sensitive Content Warning Image

Download Article

1
Open Instagram and tap the profile icon. One way to allow followers to choose whether they want to see something or not is to create a slideshow-type post, with the first image(s) in the post displaying the spoiler or warning image you create. Then, viewers can decide whether they want to swipe left to see the sensitive content. You can also post your sensitive content warning image on your story to warn people that upcoming images or videos might be upsetting.
- Keep in mind that even if you're sharing content behind a warning, you'll still need to abide by Instagram's community guidelines.
The easiest way to create a sensitive content warning is to create an image with the Instagram Story editor. Then, you can use that image on posts and stories.

Advertisement
This opens the Story editor.
It's on the left panel. This opens Create mode, where you can start editing your sensitive content warning or spoiler.
5
Enter your text. Tap Aa at the top of the screen to enter typing mode, then type the text you want on your warning. For example, you could create an image that says "Sensitive Content Warning—swipe left to see it," "Spoiler Alert Ahead," or "Trigger Warning," followed by a clean/safe description of the content you're sharing. It can be helpful to explain why the content might be upsetting. For example, "The following content might be triggering for trauma survivors."^{[1]
X
Research source}
- You'll see some text formatting options at the top below what you’ve typed. You can tap the colorful circle to choose a different text color, try a different font, or choose any text effects.
- To increase the text size, drag the left slider up. To decrease it, drag the slider down.
This saves your text and displays a preview.
7
Edit your sensitive content warning. For example, you might want to change the size of the text even further by placing two fingers over the text and pushing outward (to increase it) or inward (to make it smaller). You can also tap the circle at the top to change the background color.
- You can tap the sticker icon at the top to insert GIFs and other features, but avoid adding music—you'll need to save the warning image to your phone or tablet, and Instagram won't let you do that if a song is included.
- Using bright colors can make your warning stand out more on the feed.
8
Tap the Save button to save your image to your phone or tablet. Depending on your device, you might see Save or an arrow pointing downward at the top-right corner. If you don't see one of these options, tap the three horizontal dots at the upper-right corner first. Once your image is saved, you can tap the X at the top-left to close the editor, and then tap X at the top-right to return to your feed.
- Now that you have a sensitive content warning image, learn how to use it to post sensitive content on your feed and on your Story.
- You can make multiple images that say different things and download them all to your phone. You can share up to 10 photos and videos in a single gallery post (some users may have the option to add more than that), so add as many warning images as you need—this gives people time to really make the conscious decision to see your sensitive content.^{[2]
  X
  Research source}

Section 2 of 4:

Posting Sensitive Content on Your Feed

Download Article

1
Create a new Instagram post. Now that you have a warning image, you can create a gallery post. Start by opening the Instagram app and tapping the + at the bottom of the screen.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- The POST option at the bottom should be selected by default. If it's not, tap POST at the bottom now.
2
Tap the two overlapping squares below the preview image. On some devices, you'll see Select Multiple. This allows you to create a carousel of photos and/or videos, which you can preface with your sensitive content warning image.
- After tapping this option, small circles will appear at the top corners of each photo in your gallery.
This will place a "1" in the upper-right corner of the thumbnail image—this means your content warning will be the first item in your carousel post.
After adding the warning images, add the sensitive content you want to share. As you tap images and/or videos, a number will appear at each image's corner. This number shows the order in which they'll be shown.
It's at the bottom-right or top-right corner, depending on your device.
If you want, you can select some background music from the bottom, or use the options at the top to select filters, add text, and more.
The caption is another great place to add a warning about the sensitive content you're sharing. You can type some thoughts about why sharing this sensitive content is important to you and why people should (or shouldn't) swipe left to view it.^{[4]
X
Research source}
Once your post is live, you'll see your sensitive content warning or spoiler alert in action. Swiping left across the first image will proceed to the next one, and so on.^{[5]
X
Research source}

Section 3 of 4:

Posting Sensitive Content on Your Story

Download Article

Once you've created your sensitive content warning image, you can add it to your Instagram story before uploading the sensitive, NSFW, or other potentially triggering content. Tap + at the bottom of Instagram, then select STORY to get started.
Tap the square at the bottom-left to browse the photos and videos on your phone or tablet, then tap the sensitive content warning you created.
Alternatively, you can first add other elements to your spoiler warning image, such as music, filters, more text, and stickers.
Now that your content warning is in your story, you can post sensitive or triggering content without worrying about catching someone off guard.

Section 4 of 4:

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

If you find an upsetting Instagram post that doesn't have a sensitive content warning, you can report it. To do so, tap the three dots above the post, select Report, and then follow the on-screen instructions.^{[6]
X
Research source}

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Instagram tends to add sensitive content warnings to posts that depict violence, but any post that can offend people may be marked as sensitive and blurred.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0