When your DM automation suddenly starts sending a lot of messages, Instagram can read that as unusual behaviour. To keep your account safe, FanBase paces how quickly it sends and holds everything else in a queue. This article explains both.
Rate limits
A rate limit is simply a cap on how many DMs can be sent in a given window of time. We apply these limits to protect you from being flagged on Instagram.
It is worth being clear on why this matters. Our app and its features are fully approved by Instagram. Even so, Instagram also looks at what is normal for your account. An account that suddenly runs DM campaigns relatively aggressively, compared to its usual activity, can sometimes trigger a notice, even while staying within the allowed limits. Pacing your sends keeps your activity looking natural and protects your standing.
The current limits are:
2 DMs per minute
100 DMs per hour
1200 DMs per day
We will soon let you choose your own limits, so you can adjust the pace to match your account and how active it normally is.
Queue system
The queue is what lets your automation keep working without ever breaking the rate limits. The idea is simple: FanBase sends DMs at the allowed pace, and whenever there are more to send than the limit allows, the extra ones wait in line and go out as soon as there is room.
You do not need to manage any of this. It happens automatically in the background. Here is how it behaves in each situation.
While your automation is active
DMs are sent in line with the rate limits.
If you reach a limit, any further DMs are added to the queue. There is no cap on how many DMs the queue can hold.
If the automation reaches its expiration date, it is paused automatically. While it is paused the queue is held, so any DMs still waiting are not sent until the automation is active again.
If you disable the automation
DMs already in the queue keep being sent.
No new DMs are sent or added to the queue until you switch the automation back on.
If you delete the automation
Any DMs still in the queue are not sent.
Public replies and reactions follow the queue too
Some automations do more than send a DM. You might also reply publicly to the comment, or react to it with an emoji. These actions are tied to the same queue, on purpose.
A public reply or reaction is only posted at the moment the DM for that comment is actually sent. This keeps everything in step. Without it, you could end up publicly replying "check your DMs" while the DM itself only lands much later. By moving together through the queue, the public reply, the reaction and the DM always reach the person at the same time.