Were you quick to join Instagram when it first came out? If so, you probably have a handle you’ll be pleased with. Maybe your first and last name, or your witty pun without numbers and underscores.
Not everyone gives too much thought to usernames, but if you’re particular about how you present yourself online, an Instagram handle is part of it. And if you hang out with a name you don’t like, you might be wondering if there are any inactive Instagram handles you can get.
Instagram Handles Supermarket
No such thing! Unfortunately, you cannot exchange for an inactive handle. In fact, you never know which handles are inactive in the first place. All you really know is that a particular Instagram handle was taken. Whether the account associated with the handle is active is another matter entirely.
And what is an inactive Instagram account anyway? What are the relevant parameters? For example, if an account has seen zero activity since it was created, it is considered inactive. Sometimes Instagram cleans up inactive handles and all those handles become usable again. But on Instagram, things move super fast and your chances of getting the handle you want are slim.
You Can Bargain
However, you cannot know for sure which handle is not 100% active. Maybe you see limited activity on the account with the handle you want. This person may be sharing or liking one post per year. It’s not unheard of. Therefore, you can reach out to them and offer to buy their Instagram handle. Or just hack the account. You never know what kind of answer you will get.
Then again, replacing them and taking over their account might not be the safest option. Think of all the bots and spam accounts out there. If the person you’re trying to negotiate isn’t responding, you can always search for the issue on other social media platforms. Maybe they’re more active on Twitter and you can find them here.
Be creative
After all, Instagram is a place for creativity. Mostly it is. You don’t have to go with the “all or nothing” approach when it comes to your Instagram handle. If you want to create a new Instagram account and the action you want has been received, start brainstorming. Take your time.
On the other hand, even if you go with something you are not very happy with, you can always change it later. The question is whether you want to go that route. Changing your sleeve is a simple process, but once you’ve amassed an Instagram follower, you can feel free to do it. All of this can be confusing.
And if the jolt of creativity never comes and you’re not happy with any version of the handle you want with numbers and underscores, you can try waiting. Wait for the Instagram account to be cleared or for a response from the owner of an inactive Instagram account. Or wait for the creative juices to start flowing again.
Trademark Infringement
If you have a business Instagram account, things are a little different. As a business, no matter how small or large, your name, logo and other trademarked material is your sole property. Instagram is aware of this and if you think another account is using your trademark, you can go directly to Instagram and fill out this form. This is a serious violation and has legal consequences.
How Much Do You Care?
It’s hard to argue against the importance of Instagram handles. You can dismiss such concerns as unimportant, but for many people, this makes it easier to find them online and drives more traffic to their account. And if you want to start an online business or just have a well-known internet personality, having the direction you want is huge.
And even if you can’t actually buy a handle directly from Instagram, you might be lucky to go a different route. Besides, you can probably still come up with something new and catchy. After all, it’s the content that sets you apart from the rest.
Let us know what you think about taking over an inactive Instagram handle in the comments section below.
