Follow/Unfollow is a growth tactic used by micro-influencers and brands to gain followers by following users, engaging briefly, and then unfollowing them. While once effective, this method now violates Instagram’s Terms and can lead to temporary blocks or permanent account deletion. It also harms credibility and engagement, as many followers gained through this method do not interact with content, causing Instagram’s algorithm to lower visibility. To avoid low-quality followers, users should focus on niche hashtags, regularly clean their follower list, and prioritize real engagement. Rather than relying on artificial tactics, authentic content creation and strategic posting are the best ways to grow sustainably.
What Is Follow/Unfollow Method?
Follow/Unfollow, or mass following, is commonly used by micro/medium influencers and brands to find new followers and customers. It has very simple mechanics:
- An influencer’s account follows you, puts a like, or posts a comment on your Instagram account.
- You will be notified and will follow them.
- They stop following you after a couple of days.
The filters they use can be based on your location (geotags) or certain hashtags and look for users who follow specific accounts.
Why Should You Immediately Stop Using This Technique on Instagram?
This directly violates Instagram’s Terms and Conditions and Community Guidelines. Instagram Support says the Instagram regulation does not allow following more than 7500 people to reduce spam.
Violation of these terms may result in the deletion of content, the deletion of accounts, and other restrictions. When it is first detected, your account will be temporarily blocked, but your account may be permanently deleted in some cases.
Your Credibility Is at Risk
Mass following is considered spam in the worst sense, and the Instagrammers who use this technique manipulate users’ attention.
Using this practice is very annoying for people who use Instagram to connect and share. When you start following someone, you commit to them; it is irritating if you stop following them after a few days.
The Follow/Unfollow Technique no Longer Works
Over 50% of the new followers that an account receives will automatically lose one day or after a week. This tactic then becomes ineffective and a huge problem.
Many of the followers you have with this method will not engage with your content. Would you like followers who do not interact with your posts?
The more passive users you have, the lower your engagement will be. Instagram shows users posts they liked and commented on more than others. If most of the public is not involved, the Instagram algorithm realizes that you are no longer interesting, decreasing your engagement accordingly.
Follow/Unfollow is not a successful strategy for growing your audience. Users now recognize when this happens. They often feel annoyed if they follow someone and realize they are no longer followed. Instagram has also taken action. There is indeed a risk of being penalized (your content will not be shown to the public) for suspicious activity when using the follow/unfollow method.
How to Protect Yourself From These Techniques
Users who follow you through the follow/unfollow technique do not automatically interact with your content. Having inactive followers negatively affects your engagement rate, quality, and audience reach.
To protect your Instagram account from these low-quality users, use these tips:
Use Well-Defined Hashtags
As previously mentioned, the accounts that use this technique set the application with filter criteria, and the most popular filter is hashtags.
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For example, influencers posting content about fashion and beauty would use popular hashtags in this niche: #beauty #fashion #style, and so on. Also, you can use fashion quotes to support these hashtags. You can use methods for diversity concepts. Each of these hashtags has over a million Instagram posts and hundreds of thousands of accounts using them.
If you want to defend your account from users who follow/unfollow, use more niche hashtags.
Focus Your Attention on Quality and Not Quantity
Constantly clean up your followers. You can do it manually if your follower count is less than 10,000. Just check the new followers; if they have more than 1500 followed users and their content is not relevant to you, just simply block them. Also, your followers should be relevant to your account. It is important to get quality followers.
Get Real Followers
You already know that you shouldn’t use follow/unfollow method to get followers. In this situation, how can you get followers quickly? First, you will create original content and share them at the right time. This way needs patience. If you need a shortcut, buy Instagram followers from Famety. Famety provides quality followers to help the organic growth of your profile.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be said that all the artificial methods of growth used on Instagram are damaging the credibility, reputation, and reach of the audience. The follow/unfollow method is not good in the long run, and while today it brings you some new followers, tomorrow it can take away a contract with a major and well-known brand.
1 Comment
Can confirm that follow unfollow work a great deal. As an expert on the matter, I have spent countless hours experimenting on follow and unfollow.