What’s the difference between tagging and mentioning on Instagram?

Answered by Stephen Mosley

So, when it comes to Instagram, there are two ways you can interact with other users: tagging and mentioning. These features allow you to engage with others and get their attention, but they are used in slightly different ways.

Let’s start with tagging. When you tag someone on Instagram, it means that you are linking their username to a specific image that you have posted. This can be done by tapping on the image and selecting the “Tag People” option. From there, you can search for the person’s username and add them to the image. You can tag multiple accounts in one image, which is great for group photos or collaborations.

Tagging is a way to give credit to others or include them in your post. For example, if you are sharing a photo of you and your friends at a party, you can tag each of your friends in the image so that they are notified and can see the photo on their own profiles. It’s a way of acknowledging their presence in the photo and making sure they are included in the conversation.

On the other hand, mentioning someone on Instagram is done through comments or captions. To mention someone, you simply need to add the @ symbol followed by their username in a comment or your caption. This will notify the person that they have been mentioned and will draw their attention to the post.

Mentions are a way to directly communicate with someone or give them a shoutout. For example, if you are posting a photo of a delicious meal you had at a restaurant, you might want to mention the restaurant’s Instagram account in your caption to give them credit and let them know how much you enjoyed their food. This can also be done in the comments section if you want to give a shoutout to someone who inspired or influenced your post.

Tagging is the act of linking someone’s username to an image, while mentioning is the act of including someone’s username in a comment or caption. Tagging is done on the image itself and can include multiple accounts, while mentioning is done through comments or captions and is more focused on direct communication or giving credit. Both features are great for engaging with others on Instagram and ensuring that everyone is included in the conversation.