We, along with many other Instagram accounts, have recently been encountering messages like this:
Followed by 200 ‘like’ notifications like this:
All those likes for FREE!? What’s not to love? Well…
For millions of its users, they see the purpose of Instagram as a platform as being there to enhance their presence and influence to the wider world (that’s the beauty of social media, right?). The desire for a substantial follower count often leads some individuals and businesses down a tempting but ultimately detrimental path: buying Instagram followers. You may have even been tempted at some point yourself! And while the allure of a quick boost in popularity may seem enticing, the negative consequences far outweigh any perceived benefits.
Here at Social Progress we’ve been looking at exactly why spending your hard earned cash on Instagram followers is money down the drain, and the potential pitfalls associated with taking a shortcut to “popularity”.
Fake Engagement and Interaction:
One of the primary drawbacks of purchasing Instagram followers is the lack of genuine engagement. These bought followers are typically inactive accounts or bots, offering no meaningful interactions such as likes, comments, or shares. As a result, your content may appear to have a large audience, but in reality, it lacks the authentic engagement that builds a loyal and active community. And as we know, an engaged and REAL audience leads to a valuable (returning) customer base, and probably recommendations to others.
Damaged Credibility and Trust:
Audiences on social media platforms value authenticity. When users discover that an account has inflated its follower count artificially, it erodes trust and damages credibility. Genuine followers appreciate honesty and transparency, and the discovery of fake followers can lead to a loss of trust, affecting your reputation both online and offline, with a potentially detrimental impact on your business.
Algorithmic Punishment:
Social media platforms employ sophisticated algorithms to determine the visibility of content. When an account has a disproportionate number of followers compared to its engagement rate, it signals to algorithms that the content may not be valuable or interesting. Consequently, the platform may reduce the visibility of your posts, limiting the organic reach of your content to a genuine audience, which is ultimately counter-productive to what you’re aiming for!
Waste of Resources:
Investing in purchased followers is a waste of financial resources. Instead of spending money on fake followers, consider allocating your budget towards genuine marketing strategies, content creation, and community engagement. Authentic growth requires time and effort, but the long-term benefits far outweigh the temporary boost that purchased followers may provide.
Vulnerability to Purges:
Social media platforms periodically conduct purges to eliminate fake accounts and bots. If you’ve purchased followers, your account is at risk of being affected by these purges. Losing a significant portion of your follower count overnight can be demoralizing and can further damage your account’s standing in the eyes of both the algorithm and your authentic followers.
We know that the appeal of a rapid increase in followers may be tempting, but as you can see, the risks and consequences of buying Instagram followers far outweigh any short-term gains. Authenticity, genuine engagement, and a loyal community are the keys to sustained success on Instagram. Instead of seeking shortcuts, focus on creating valuable content, engaging with your audience, and building a credible online presence that stands the test of time. And if that in itself sounds overwhelming, or you just want some advice on how best to optimise your social media marketing, we’re there to help – all you have to do is get in touch!
FAQs
Fake social media followers and likes can harm your reputation and credibility. Fake accounts are unrelated, and often weird content or have no photos, causing your business to appear vain and desperate.
Is it wrong to buy followers and likes on social media? ›
Fake social media followers and likes can harm your reputation and credibility. Fake accounts are unrelated, and often weird content or have no photos, causing your business to appear vain and desperate.
How to tell if someone bought Instagram followers? ›
If the comments are clearly irrelevant or gibberish, they're from fake followers. Following/Followed by “fan-buying” services: If you look through their followers and who they're following, you might see one or two fan-buying accounts. These are huge red flags that the influencer is gaining fake Instagram followers.
Why is it so hard to grow Instagram followers? ›
Instagram is not a one-way street. To foster growth, you need to engage with your audience actively. Respond to comments, ask questions, and try to like and comment on other users' posts within your niche. Genuine engagement builds relationships and encourages people to follow and interact with your account.
Why should I avoid fake Instagram followers? ›
The problem with fake followers is that they're just that—fake. They don't engage with your content, they don't buy your products, they don't attend your events, and they certainly don't help you build a loyal community. In fact, they do the opposite. They erode trust.
Why is it bad to buy followers on Instagram? ›
Buying Instagram followers can lead to a host of issues, including low engagement rates, harm to your credibility, and potential account suspension. Purchased followers are often fake or inactive accounts that do not interact with your content, undermining your efforts to build a genuine audience.
Will Instagram punish me for buying followers? ›
Instagram can penalize you: You might think that buying Instagram followers won't be noticed, but that's not the case. In fact, Instagram can penalize you for buying fake followers.
Do people unfollow you if you buy followers? ›
If you buy followers on Instagram, they may unfollow you later. This is because they may not be interested in your content, or they may be fake accounts that are only interested in getting followings. If you want to avoid this, you should try to get organic followers by posting interesting and engaging content.
What happens if Instagram finds out you bought followers? ›
Your Account May Be Penalized
The platform works diligently to purge these accounts because they violate their Community Guidelines. Depending on how many fake or bot followers you have, Instagram may also take action against your account.
Do influencers still buy followers? ›
Yes, for real. While a substantial follower count may attract brands for influencer marketing collaborations, it's vital to recognize that quantity doesn't always translate to success or credibility, especially when those numbers are artificially inflated.
These are the Top 16 Growth Services for Instagram:
- Social Buddy.
- Kicksta.
- Social Sensei.
- Ampfluence.
- Combin.
- Upleap.
- Instamber.
- Instazood.
What is the fastest-growing Instagram account? The fastest-growing Instagram account in 2023 was Dwayne Johnson, who gained over 100 million followers in just one year.
Why is nobody following me on Instagram? ›
If you find yourself with no followers on Instagram, you need to rebuild your presence. Your bio should be clear, and your profile picture should be brand-aligned. Post engaging content that's in tune with your branding and be proactive: engage with your followers, like their posts, comment on them, and so on.
Can people tell if you bought followers? ›
Check for sudden spikes in their follower count
One way to easily spot if someone bought fake followers is by analyzing their follower growth over time. If you see sudden spikes, you're probably seeing the moments in which the influencer bought followers.
Does buying followers actually work? ›
Yes, you can buy Instagram followers… but that doesn't mean you should. Why? Buying Instagram followers means paying for a number, which means most of your "followers" will be bots or inactive accounts who'll either spam (or never engage with) your posts. Plus, they can cause more harm than good (keep reading).
How to tell if IG followers are fake? ›
6 Ways to Check for Fake Followers on Instagram
- Verify Audience Quality. ...
- Check Out Follower Profiles. ...
- Monitor How Quickly Followers Increase. ...
- Review the Consistency of Follower Interactions.
Key Takeaways. Buying fake followers can result in account suspension or even permanent deletion, as it violates Instagram's terms of service. Fake engagement skews your metrics and damages your credibility, potentially misleading sponsors and real users.
Does buying followers mess up your account? ›
Yes, buying followers can indeed hurt your Instagram growth, particularly if these followers are low-quality or inactive accounts. Instagram's algorithm prioritizes engagement, so having a lot of inactive followers can reduce the overall engagement rate of your account.
Does buying Instagram likes hurt your account? ›
Although buying Instagram likes for your posts can increase the like count, it will drastically decrease the credibility of your Instagram account. Being an Instagram creator means building trust and maintaining transparency for followers.
Can you get in trouble for buying likes on Instagram? ›
There are no laws that make it illegal. It's a quick way to legally boost your follower count and look more popular.
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