It looks like the GIF woes on Instagram just keep getting worse for some users. Remember that frustrating issue where some folks couldn’t find the GIF button in comments or the GIFs weren’t loading in Instagram Stories? Well, now it seems a whole new layer of trouble has emerged. Many users are reporting a rather ominous “content unavailable” message popping up in place of GIFs in the comments section.
I’ve been keeping an eye on this problem, and it’s clear it’s not going away quietly. I’ve already written about GIFs disappearing for some users in Instagram Stories and how that GIF button was just nowhere to be found in comments for others. Now, the sheer volume of reports from users seeing “content unavailable” where a hilarious reaction GIF should be makes it seem like the folks over at Instagram are clueless about the issue or how to fix it.
Just take a look at what some users are saying. One frustrated person on Reddit said:
Anytime I click the usual gif thing I get shown create an avatar which I’m not doing and no gif tab, additionally all “gifs” are grey boxes.
Another user asked the following:
Anyone know why my gifs on comment sections are unavailable? … the gifs don’t even show up anymore, PLUS i can’t even comment gifs anymore, all i can use are the shitty ass avatar stickers and who tf uses those?
Someone else said that it only happens with one account:
On only 1 account I can’t see any gifs. I can post them no problem but for some reason I can’t see them on just my one account. Is this something in my settings I have to change?
It’s clear people are getting pretty fed up. This isn’t just about not being able to post GIFs. It’s also about not being able to see the GIFs others have posted. Imagine trying to follow a conversation where half the visual jokes are just blank spaces. It totally disrupts the flow. Another user simply stated, “Same. I can’t comment gifs, now I can’t see them😒”
I’ve been trying to figure out if there’s any pattern to who is affected. It seems pretty random across both Android and iOS devices, which makes it even harder to pinpoint a cause. Some people have tried the usual troubleshooting steps, like reinstalling the app or clearing the cache, but those efforts mostly seem to be in vain. It’s not a quick fix for most.
On a brighter note, I did spot a potential workaround for those who are struggling to find the option to add GIFs to their Stories. It’s not ideal, but it’s something. You can actually go to the Giphy website or use their app, find the GIF you want, copy it, and then paste it directly into your Instagram Story. I tested this out on both Android and iOS, and it seems to work. While it doesn’t solve the “content unavailable” issue in comments, it’s at least a way to get some GIF action back into your Stories.
You can watch this video for a visual guide on how to do it:
Instagram hasn’t really offered a clear explanation or a widespread fix. It leaves a lot of users in the dark, wondering when their beloved GIFs will make a full return. For now, it’s a waiting game, and hopefully, Instagram will get these issues sorted out sooner rather than later. Until then, some of us are just left staring at “content unavailable” where a perfect reaction GIF once lived.
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Dwayne Cubbins
1076 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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