Yes, Instagram does ban accounts that are found to be using fake followers.
Instagram's community guidelines state that buying or selling fake followers is against their terms of service. They actively monitor for suspicious activity, and accounts that violate these guidelines can face various consequences, including:
- Account suspension: Instagram can temporarily or permanently suspend your account.
- Removal of fake followers: They can remove any fake followers from your account.
- Limited reach: Your posts might reach fewer people.
- Reduced engagement: Your posts might receive fewer likes and comments.
Instagram uses various methods to detect fake followers, including:
- Analyzing follower growth: They look for sudden spikes in followers, which can indicate fake follower purchases.
- Examining follower profiles: They review follower profiles for suspicious activity, such as inactive accounts or accounts with generic profile pictures.
- Monitoring engagement: They track engagement metrics like likes, comments, and shares to identify accounts with low engagement.
While buying fake followers might seem appealing, it can ultimately harm your account and brand reputation. It's crucial to focus on building genuine followers who are genuinely interested in your content.
