Many Americans rate Instagram's rules as moderately strict
Core finding
More Americans call Instagram's rules and social norms 'moderately strict' (29%) than give any other single verdict, according to a May 2026 Verasight survey of 496 U.S. adults. Roughly a quarter (26%) say they don't use the app at all.
Another 20% see the rules as only 'slightly strict' and 14% say they are 'not strict at all,' while stricter verdicts stay rare: 7% call them 'very strict' and 4% 'extremely strict.'.
Topline distribution
Many Americans rate Instagram's rules as moderately strict.
On Instagram, how strict are the rules and social norms about what people can say or do?
n = 496 · May 11, 2026 · MoE ±4.7%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | May 11, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 496 |
| Margin of error | ±4.7% |
| Module | beliefs |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26
On Instagram, how strict are the rules and social norms about what people can say or do?
Cite this question
Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=496 US adults age 18+, +/- 4.7%.