How to Allow People to Mention You on Instagram

An Instagram @mention is one of the most powerful forms of organic marketing, but it only works if your settings allow it. If you want people to tag you, share your content in their Stories, or give your brand a shoutout, you need to make sure they actually can. This guide will walk you through exactly how to check and adjust your mention settings, manage the engagement that follows, and turn those tags into real community growth.

Why Instagram Mentions Are Your Secret Weapon for Growth

Before jumping into the settings, it helps to understand why mentions are so important. A mention isn't just a notification, it's a direct signal to the Instagram algorithm and to potential new followers that your content is worth paying attention to.

• Social Proof: When a real person mentions your brand or profile, it acts as a genuine endorsement. It tells their followers, "Hey, this is cool, you should check it out." This kind of authentic testimonial is far more effective than a paid ad.
• User-Generated Content (UGC): Every time someone mentions you in a photo of your product, a video of them using your service, or a Reel inspired by your content, that's free content for you. Resharing this UGC to your Stories builds an authentic and engaging feed that shows real people love what you do.
• Expanded Reach: When someone mentions you, their entire following has a chance to see it. It’s a direct bridge to a new audience that might not have discovered your profile otherwise. Think of every mention as a mini-collaboration.

Mentions transform your audience from passive viewers into active participants in your brand's story. By allowing them, you open the door to authentic conversations, compounding reach, and a community that feels seen and valued.

How to Allow People to Mention You: The Step-by-Step Guide

By default, Instagram settings are usually open, but it's always smart to check. If you've ever set your account to private or tightened your privacy settings, these permissions might be more restrictive than you think. Let's get it sorted in less than a minute.

Here’s how to access and change your mention settings:

1. Go to your Instagram Profile and tap the three horizontal lines (the "hamburger" menu) in the top-right corner.
2. From the menu that appears, tap on Settings and Privacy.
3. Scroll down to the "How others can interact with you" section and tap on Tags and Mentions.
4. You'll see a section titled "WHO CAN MENTION YOU" with three options:
   • Allow mentions from everyone: This is the setting you want if you're a brand, creator, or public figure. It removes all barriers, allowing any of Instagram's billion-plus users to tag you in their Stories, captions, comments, or live videos. This maximizes your opportunity for organic reach.
   • Allow mentions from people you follow: This setting is more restrictive. It's often used by people who want more privacy and prefer to keep their interactions within their known circle. If you choose this, a user who doesn't follow you will not be able to complete the @mention when tagging you. For a business, this can unknowingly block valuable UGC and shoutouts.
   • Don't allow mentions: This option completely blocks anyone from mentioning your account. If someone tries to type @yourusername, it simply won’t link back to your profile. This is the most restrictive option and is almost never recommended for accounts looking to grow.

For brands and creators, the choice is simple: set it to "Allow mentions from everyone." By doing so, you invite your audience to engage with you, create content about you, and become an active part of your community.

Fine-Tuning How Others Share Your Content

Related to mentions, you should also review the settings that control how people can share the content you're featured in, especially Stories.

Managing Story Sharing

When someone mentions you in their Instagram Story, you get a notification in your DMs with an "Add to your story" button. This is the easiest way to reshare UGC. However, Instagram also has broader sharing settings you should check.

1. In Settings and Privacy, find the "Sharing and remixes" section.
2. Allow story sharing to messages: When this is turned on, people who see your Story (including one that you've reshared) can forward it to others via direct message. This amplifies your content organically. For most brands, this should be turned on.
3. Allow sharing posts and Reels to stories: This lets people take your regular feed posts and share them as a sticker in their own Story, with a direct link back to the original post and your profile. It's another fantastic way to get your content in front of a new audience.

Troubleshooting: "Help! Why Can't People Mention Me?"

If you've checked your settings and they're set to "everyone" but people still report issues, one of these common culprits is usually to blame.

1. Is Your Account Private?

If your account is set to private, only users who follow you can mention you. Other users can type your @username, but it won't be a clickable link. For any business, public brand, or creator, your first step should always be to use a Creator or Business account, which are public by design.

To check, go to Settings and Privacy > Account privacy. Make sure the "Private account" toggle is off.

2. Have You Blocked the Person Trying to Mention You?

It sounds obvious, but it’s a possible reason. If you have blocked a user, they cannot mention you, and you cannot mention them. Privacy works both ways. If the issue is with a specific person, make sure they aren’t on your block list.

3. Are You Using Your Correct Username?

Sometimes the issue is simple user error. If someone consistently can’t tag you, ask them to double-check the spelling of your username. A single typo, like an underscore in the wrong place or a forgotten number, will prevent the mention from working.

4. It Might Just Be an Instagram Glitch

Rarely, the problem isn't with your settings but with the app itself. The classic advice works for a reason: ask the user to close and reopen their Instagram app, make sure it’s up to date, or even restart their phone. If the problem persists, it could be a temporary bug that will resolve itself.

Actionable Strategies to Encourage More Mentions

Simply allowing mentions isn't enough, you need to actively encourage your audience to tag you. Here are a few proven ways to get the ball rolling and generate a stream of high-quality UGC.

Run a UGC Campaign or Contest

This is the most direct way to get mentions. Create a simple contest framework, such as:

"Share a photo in your feed of you using our new product! Be sure to mention @yourbrand and use the hashtag #ourcampaign for a chance to win a $100 gift card. We’ll be choosing a winner next Friday."

This motivates your audience with an incentive and gives clear instructions on how to participate. The value you get from the social proof and content is often far greater than the cost of the prize.

Create Share-Worthy Content

Some content is just begging to be shared. Think about creating:

• Relatable Memes or Quotes: People love to share content that reflects their personality or thoughts. If you make a post they identify with, they'll often share it to their Story and mention friends in the comments.
• Informational Carousels or Infographics: Pack valuable knowledge into a beautifully designed graphic. Users will share it with friends who might find it useful.
• Ask for Mentions in Your Calls to Action (CTAs): Don’t be shy! If you provide a tutorial, ask your audience to mention you if they try it out. If you share a delicious recipe, end your caption with, "Let me know what you think if you make it - and don't forget to mention me in your post!"

Deliver an Amazing Customer Experience

People love to shout out brands that go the extra mile. A beautifully packaged product, a hand-written thank you note, or speedy and helpful customer service can all trigger a spontaneous mention on someone's Story. Focus on creating an experience so good that your customers feel compelled to share it.

Engage with Every Mention You Receive

When someone mentions you, always respond. A simple "like" and "thank you!" comment can make a follower's day. For extra credit, reshare their feed post or Story to your own Story and give them an appreciative shoutout. This positive reinforcement shows that you're paying attention and makes that person (and everyone else watching) more likely to mention you again in the future.

Final Thoughts

Turning on your mentions is a simple flip of a switch, but its impact is huge. It's a foundational step in turning your Instagram into a community hub where your followers feel empowered to share your story for you. By setting your account to allow mentions from everyone, you unlock opportunities for organic reach, user-generated content, and genuine brand growth that ads alone can't replicate.

Once you open the floodgates to mentions and UGC starts flowing in, the next step is managing the conversation. At Postbase, we built our tool around a unified inbox specifically because we know how overwhelming it is to track comments and DMs across multiple platforms. With all your Instagram DMs (including Story mention notifications) and comments in one place, you can respond to every single mention, nurture your community, and make sure no fan shoutout ever gets missed. You can learn more about Postbase here.