Can you get banned from Instagram for buying followers?
In a world where individuals aspire to become social media celebrities and gain thousands of followers, numbers matter. However, what if that number is not as authentic as you would prefer? This is a common dream for everyone who wants to become popular, especially for those who are still in the process of creating an account. But before you hit “purchase,” let’s delve into the question: Is it possible to get banned for buying Instagram followers?
The Short Answer:
Technically, yes. Paying for followers is prohibited under the Instagram Community Guidelines, which define the proper conduct of users on the platform. The purpose of such guidelines is to ensure all participants receive a fair and real experience. Therefore, Instagram has the right to act against accounts that are involved in fake activity, such as buying followers.
The Longer (and More Important) Answer:
Here’s the thing: there is seldom a straight-up ban on purchasing followers. Instagram is more likely to take other measures, like:
- Account Suspension: This is a short-term lockout, often lasting not more than two days, sometimes a day or a single night. It is a reminder from Instagram to help you correct your behavior and come back to the normal use of the application.
- Reduced Reach: If, for instance, Instagram sees a bunch of inactive followers one day, they may limit the number of people that you get to see your post. This can be frustrating, especially because it defeats the purpose of amassing followers in the first place.
- Content Throttling: It might reduce the visibility of your posts, for example, in the main feed and in stories. This makes it difficult for you to cultivate actual relationships with real users in the real world.
What is Instagram’s stake in all of this?
It is clear that Instagram desires the platform to be an area for genuine connections and organic socialisation. Many fake followers are meaningless; they don’t retweet, reply, or share your posts. This is not fair to the actual content creators and business people who are out there struggling to make it in an already unbalanced market. Also, a large influx of fake followers might make the account seem shady, which may deter genuine users.
Well, you may be wondering, so what do I do instead?
Organic growth also means that fans and followers are real people with whom you can build a relationship that will be much more profitable than the influx of bots that give you thousands of new subscribers in one day.
Here are some organic growth strategies to consider instead of buying Instagram followers:
- Create high-quality content: This is the principle on which any effective Instagram marketing begins. Share good-looking and interesting posts your target audience will find relevant.
- Find Your Niche: Never attempt to cater for all the needs of the people. Choose one or two themes in your blog that you are most interested in and that will appeal to a particular audience.
- Engage with Your Audience: Engage with the audience by replying to comments and questions, and by interacting in the discussion when appropriate. This helps create the feeling of togetherness, and encourages people to attend the events in the future.
- Use Relevant Hashtags: Explore the most trending hashtags that are relevant to your area of focus and incorporate them into your post. This makes it possible for individuals to come across your content.
- Collaborate with Others: Collaborate with influencers or brands in your niche for shoutouts or for creating a new campaign. This makes you visible to a larger market.
- Promote on Other Platforms: Encourage your followers on other social networks to follow your Instagram page.
- Utilize Instagram Features: Stay active on Stories, Reels, and IGTV and allow your creativity to thrive while engaging with your audience.
While growing at a slow pace may appear to be a drawback, it is actually a much more beneficial process in the long haul. When you already have a core of real loyal fans, you establish trust, and that is where credibility comes in, and that yields better outcomes.
In need of assistance with organic growth?
You cannot achieve a good following on Instagram within a short span of time. If you want to get more professional advice and assistance, there are websites like SMGains. They have various services that they provide to assist businesses and people in organically increasing the number of followers on their Instagram. Visit their website for more details.