Fake followers are accounts created on social media platforms which exist solely to appear as though they are actual people, when in reality they are automated bots or inactive accounts managed by third-parties.
These fake followers can be purchased in bulk as a method of boosting popularity of an account by making it appear more successful than it actually is. Fake followers are nothing more than automated bots and are intended to boost engagement levels on an account, not to interact with content or provide any meaning to an audience.
Fake followers can be detrimental to an individual’s or business’s online presence as it undermines the credibility of their content, makes it look as though their audience is larger than it actually is, and can even evoke a negative response from their legitimate followers.
How can you tell if someone has fake followers?
The most reliable way is to use a third-party service that can check for fake followers. Such services can look for signs such as unusually high numbers of follows and likes, inactive user accounts, accounts created with the same profile information, and more.
Another way to tell if someone has fake followers is to compare their engagement numbers to their follower count. High numbers of followers with low likes and comments is usually an indication they have fake followers.
It is also helpful to look at the follower list to get a better idea of the types of followers they have. Fake accounts often have generic or incomplete information, or the profile pictures may look harmless but look staged.
Finally, you can also look for suspicious behaviors from the account holder themselves. If you notice them mass following and unfollowing users quickly, using numerous bots, or using a service to purchase followers, these can be signs that the account has fake followers.
Can someone have fake followers on Instagram?
Yes, it is entirely possible for someone to have fake followers on Instagram. Fake followers are created through automated bots or networks of fake profiles that were created with the intention of increasing the numbers of followers for a particular user.
Using these services, individuals can purchase a large number of followers to boost the public presence of their profile. Although this is not an ethical practice, many people have resorted to purchasing fake followers in order to make their profile look more credible and popular.
Needless to say, people should be aware that fake followers do not actually engage with a user’s content and cannot provide any value to them.
Who has the most fake Instagram followers?
It is difficult to definitively determine who has the most fake Instagram followers, as there are various metrics used to define this and it depends on the public account or influencer in question.
In general, it is believed that celebrity accounts tend to have the highest ratios of fake Instagram followers, as their accounts may be targeted more often by bots than other accounts. Some of the celebrities that have been named as having the most fake followers include Kim Kardashian, Justin Bieber, and Ariana Grande.
Others believed to have a large number of fake followers include Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, and Rihanna.
In addition to celebrities, many influencers who have large followings have been accused of having the most fake followers. This includes influencers who purchase followers to appear more popular than they actually are and those who fail to properly secure their accounts, leading to bot and spam accounts following them.
Ultimately, a variety of metrics should be used to determine whether or not an Instagram account has a high amount of fake followers, and it depends on the specific account in question.
Can people tell if you’ve bought followers?
Yes, people can tell if you have bought followers. One indication is if your follower count suddenly increases in a short amount of time with no corresponding increase in engagement. People can also spot large numbers of inactive or spammy followers, which is an indication of bot followers.
Additionally, if you are paying for followers, they may not interact with your account when you post content, which could be a red flag for potential followers. Ultimately, the presence of fake followers is a dead giveaway, so it is important to be conscientious of the accounts you purchase followers from.
Does Instagram delete accounts with fake followers?
Yes, Instagram does delete accounts with fake followers. The platform is constantly combating against fake accounts, spam and other types of unwanted behavior in order to safeguard the integrity of its user experience.
Fake followers are often created with automated bot accounts that post spam or engage in other disruptive activities. By removing accounts with fake followers, Instagram is helping to ensure its platform remains a safe and positive place for users to connect and interact.
Can Instagram ban me for fake followers?
Yes, Instagram can ban you for having fake followers. Instagram has a policy that anyone who attempts to artificially grow their follower count or engagement with inauthentic activity, including the use of third-party apps, will have action taken against their account.
This could include a temporary or permanent suspension of your account. Additionally, if you follow and like certain accounts that violate Instagram’s policies, you may be subject to disciplinary action.
Instagram is continuously finding new ways to detect accounts that have a significant number of false followers, and they are taking a zero tolerance approach to any type of inauthentic activity. So you may be subject to account suspension or permanent deletion even if you did not attempt to boost your follower count.
Do influencers use fake followers?
The use of fake followers is an ongoing debate in the influencer marketing industry. The truth is, some influencers may use fake followers, either intentionally or unknowingly. Fake followers generally refer to purchased followers from third-party websites, artificial bots, or as a result of practices like automated follow/unfollow.
Such practices are not only unethical, but also ultimately ineffective and could even damage an influencer’s reputation.
Legitimate influencers who are building an engaged and real audience organically realize that using fake followers does not bring in real engagement and meaningful conversations that brands are looking for.
It is in their best interest to steer clear of such practices and focus on growing their profile organically.
Typically, brands track the verified influence of their influencers and runners of influencer campaigns, in terms of audience quality, engagement ratio, etc. As such, any influencers who have been found to have fake followers will have difficulty getting into campaigns or maintaining positive relationships with brands.
Therefore, while it is difficult to tell who is using fake followers and who is not, it is recommended that influencers should be honest and transparent about their presence and build a genuine connect with their audience and their audience’s relationships with their followers.
Ultimately, influencers who use fake followers and fake engagement might attract money from naïve brands, but this will ultimately prove to be unsustainable in the long term.
Can you go to jail for making a fake Instagram account?
In general, creating a fake Instagram account is not a criminal offense, so it is not possible to go to jail for making a fake Instagram account. However, depending on the purpose and content of the account, there may be legal consequences for creating a fake Instagram account.
For example, if someone creates a fake account to harass or bully another person, or to impersonate someone else in a malicious way, they may be charged with a crime such as identity theft, harassment, cyberstalking or cyberbullying.
In some cases, particularly if the person was impersonated was a minor or if there was some financial gain from creating the fake account, the person who created it may be subject to more severe criminal charges that could result in jail time.
