Instagram Giveaway Rules
Instagram giveaway rules decide whether your draw is fair and compliant. Here is what Instagram requires, what to include and a template you can copy today.
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Key Takeaways
- Instagram requires every giveaway to include a release of Instagram by each entrant and a statement that Instagram does not sponsor, endorse or run it.
- The host, not Instagram, is responsible for the official rules, eligibility terms and any laws that apply to the giveaway.
- Instagram does not allow you to encourage inaccurate tagging, such as asking people to tag themselves in photos they are not in.
- Clear rules always state the deadline, eligibility, entry method, prize and how the winner will be chosen.
- Rules differ by platform: tag-a-friend entries are common on Instagram but are not permitted on Facebook Pages.
What Does Instagram Require in Every Giveaway?
Instagram asks every giveaway host to take full responsibility for the promotion and to make two statements in the rules. According to Instagram’s promotion guidelines, you are responsible for:
- The official rules of the giveaway.
- Offer terms and eligibility, such as age and residency limits.
- Following every law and regulation that applies to the giveaway and its prizes.
Every promotion must also include a complete release of Instagram by each entrant and an acknowledgment that the promotion is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram. Instagram adds that it will not help run your giveaway.
What Should Your Instagram Giveaway Rules Include?
Good giveaway rules answer every question an entrant could ask before they comment. If a detail affects who can win, write it down.
| Rule element | What to write | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline | Exact end date, time and time zone | Ends October 31 at 11:59 PM ET |
| Eligibility | Age, country and who is excluded | 18+, US residents only, staff excluded |
| How to enter | The exact action required | Comment WIN and tag one friend |
| Entry limit | One entry or multiple entries | One entry per account |
| Prize | What it is, its value and shipping | One pair of headphones, shipped free |
| Winner selection | Method and draw date | Random draw from eligible comments on November 1 |
| Winner contact | Channel and reply window | Direct message from our account; 48 hours to reply |
| Disclaimer | Instagram release statement | Use the sentence from the template below |
What Is Not Allowed in an Instagram Giveaway?
Instagram keeps its list of restrictions short, but breaking any of them can get a giveaway post reported or removed.
- Encouraging inaccurate tagging, such as asking people to tag themselves in photos they do not appear in.
- Implying that Instagram sponsors, endorses or runs the giveaway.
- Leaving out the required release and disclaimer statement.
- Ignoring local laws on lotteries, age limits or prize taxes, which remain the host’s responsibility.
How Do Giveaway Rules Differ on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube?
Each platform adds its own requirements, so a rule that works on Instagram may break the rules on another network. YouTube, for example, publishes its own contest policies that require free entry and a privacy notice in the official rules.
| Requirement | YouTube | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform release and not-a-sponsor statement | Required | Required | Required |
| Official rules | Required | Required | Required, with a link to the Community Guidelines |
| Tag-a-friend entries | Allowed if tags are accurate | Not permitted | Not addressed |
| Share-to-timeline entries | Not addressed | Not permitted | Not addressed |
| Free to enter | Follow local law | Follow local law | Required |
| Privacy notice in the rules | Not addressed | Not addressed | Required |
How Do Your Rules Connect to the Winner Draw?
Your rules only protect you if the draw follows them exactly. When it is time to pick a winner, turn each rule into a filter in a comment picker: the keyword, the tag requirement, one entry per account and excluded usernames. For the full step-by-step process, see our guide on how to pick a giveaway winner on Instagram.
Instagram Giveaway Rules FAQ
Instagram’s promotion guidelines do not ban it, and many hosts use it. Because comment pickers read comments rather than follower lists, check that the winner follows you after the draw.
Yes. Instagram makes the host responsible for official rules and eligibility no matter how small the prize is, so even a short giveaway needs written rules.
Put the short version in the caption and the full official rules on a page linked from your bio. Mention in the caption where the full rules can be found.
Instagram requires users to be at least 13, but many hosts set an 18+ limit to avoid parental consent issues and to keep prize delivery simple.