If you’re looking to grow on Instagram, you may have heard about Instagram bots. These mysterious accounts can double your followers fast or leave sweet comments on your posts.
Bots are extremely tempting for anyone who wants to know how to get 100k IG followers in no time! But that’s not the whole story. They can ruin all your efforts!
In this blog, we’ll dive into the reasons why they’re dangerous, and how to spot and get rid of bots on Instagram. Let’s get started!
What Are Bots on Instagram?
Instagram bots are automated accounts designed to perform certain actions like following, liking, or commenting to create fake engagements. According to the latest reports, there are around 95 million bot accounts on Instagram.
How Do Instagram Bots Work?
IG bots automate actions like following, liking posts, leaving comments, and even sending direct messages to certain accounts in order to inflate engagement or follower count.
In addition to Instagram like bots, some bots view stories or respond to polls and questions. So, here are different types of bots on Instagram:
1. Instagram Follower Bots: These bots are designed to follow or unfollow other accounts to get follow backs.
2. Instagram Engagement Bots: Liking a post, commenting, viewing a story, or even replying to story stickers are what these bots do to create fake engagement metrics.
3. Instagram DM Bots: IG DM bots send automated welcome messages once you follow an account. They can also send promotional DMs containing links.
4. Instagram Click Bots: These bots click on ads, sponsored posts, and links in the hope of boosting an ad’s performance or driving traffic to a website.
How to Recognize Instagram Bots?
While you can’t certainly determine if an account is a bot, there are common signs that can help you spot them:
1. No Profile Picture: They don’t have profile pictures or if they do, it’s a generic or stock image.
2. General or Nonsense Usernames: Bots have weird or generic names, usernames, or bios with lots of emojis.
3. Zero Posts: They don’t have any posts in their feeds.
4. Overly Promotional Posts: IG bots may also share unoriginal content or links rather than original content.
5. Unusual Follower-to-Following Ratio: Not always, but bot accounts may have too many followers with a few followings or vice versa.
6. Liking Your Posts Quickly: Bots can show up from nowhere and like your post fast. Most of the time, they’re not even your followers.
7. General Comments: Bots leave generic and irrelevant comments like “Nice Pic” on posts.
8. Promotional Comments: Additionally, IG bots leave CTA comments like “DM Me”, “Check Your DMs” and so on.
9. Promotional DMs: Bots sometimes send unsolicited direct messages with promotional messaging or links.
10. Different Accounts with the Same Content: If you notice different accounts posting the same content with the same captions and hashtags, this could suggest automated activity.
How to Stop Bots from Following You on Instagram?
Bots are annoying but you can take some actions to stop them:
How to Stop Instagram Bots
1. Use Instagram’s “Flagged for Review” Feature
Instagram has added a new feature allowing you to delete flagged follow requests and followers. This feature creates a list named “Flagged” where you can review and remove suspicious requests and Instagram random followers. To review flagged followers and requests, do the following:
- Go to your profile and tap ‘Followers’.
See Flagged Accounts on IG
- Now, open ‘Flagged for Review’ to see potential spam or bot followers.
Instagram Flagged for Review
- Review the account and if it’s spam or irrelevant, tap ‘Remove’ to remove it from your followers.
Remove Flagged Accounts on IG
- To view flagged follow requests, tap ‘Flagged’ and delete the suspicious request.
Manage Flagged Requests on Instagram
2. Filter Comments & Messages
Thanks to handy Instagram features, you can block comments with certain words. While Instagram basically performs this filtering, you can set up advanced filters. To activate the setting, follow these steps:
- Open ‘Settings and Activity’ and scroll down to ‘Hidden Words’.
Filter Instagram Comments
- Now, tap ‘Continue’.
Set up Hidden Words on IG
- Switch all settings on and tap ‘Manage Custom Words and Phrases’.
Manage Hidden Words on Comments
- Finally, type the words and tap ‘Add’. Instagram will block the comments and messages containing these words.
Filter Certain Words on IG Comments
3. Set a Strong Instagram Password
If you’ve ever purchased followers from Instagram followers apps and tools, immediately change your password. Your login credentials may have ended up on a dark web database which someone can buy and access your account.
To maximize security, we also recommend setting a strong password. Here are the best practices for a stronger password:
- Make it a phrase rather than a single word. Take “outsiderains”, for example.
- Add numbers and special characters like “49outside&$rains62”.
- Include lower and uppercase letters – 49ouTside&$rAins62”.
Use a password manager if you don’t want to bother remembering your password. A password manager will generate a strong password for you and store it securely.
4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication for Your Account
To further protect your Instagram account, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) is best. If your credentials somehow get exposed, you need extra protection to prevent unauthorized access. Here are the steps to turn on 2fa on Instagram:
- Head over to ‘Settings and Activity’ and open ‘Accounts Center’.
How to Enable Two-Factor Authentication on Instagram
- Tap ‘Password and Security’ and then ‘Two-factor Authentication’.
Enabling Two-Factor Authentication on IG
- Select the account for which you want to activate 2fa.
- Next, choose your security method (authentication app, SMS, or WhatsApp) and tap ‘Next’.
How to Turn on 2fa on Instagram
- Finally, tap ‘Done’ to confirm it.
And don’t worry! You can disable it at any time. We’ve explained how to turn off two-factor authentication on Instagram.
5. Report Bots
The easiest way to get rid of Instagram bots is to report them. This way, you help the Instagram algorithm identify and take appropriate actions against accounts involved in spammy or bot-driven behavior. Wondering how to report a fake IG account and bot? Just tap the three dots next to the username and choose ‘Report’.
6. Avoid General Hashtags
We understand you’re looking to find out how to reach more people on Instagram. But using overly broad hashtags like #love, which are not relevant to your content, just let ig bots hunt you. So, consider more specific and niche hashtags.
7. Don’t Participate in Follow-for-Follow Activities
It’s 2024 and the methods like follow-to-follow or joining Instagram engagement pods are absolutely outdated. These ways can only attract bots and spam accounts and hurt your real engagement. So, avoid them!
Why You Must Avoid Instagram Bots
If you want to know how to gain Instagram followers quickly, you might be tempted to use bots. But understanding the dangers can change your mind. Here are the main risks of using bots on Instagram:
1. Bots Put Your Account at Ban Risk
First and foremost, bots are against Instagram’s Terms of Use. They don’t use Instagram’s API. If the platform detects any auto follow/unfollow, like, comment, or DM, it will ban your account immediately. This means you can’t post new content or your current posts won’t be visible to non-followers.
Take this warning seriously! Instagram has cracked down on many bot services like Ektora so far because of violating its guidelines. Additionally, Meta is taking strict measures against bots and ‘unwanted followers’ by flagging accounts.
2. Bots Hurt Your Brand Reputation
As mentioned earlier, bots may leave irrelevant or even sensitive comments on your posts. If your followers see these accounts, they may lose trust in your brand’s legitimacy. This can damage your whole reputation.
3. Bots Create Fake Engagement
Instagram bots don’t leave meaningful comments on your posts. In other words, they don’t engage with your content organically and this won’t help grow your Instagram account.
4. Bots Ruin Real Engagements
Bots can flood your posts with spam comments, burying genuine comments under them. This can hurt your connection with your followers.
5. Bots Perform Malicious Activities
Another security risk is bots with malicious intent. They could be designed to spread spam, malware, or phishing. Clicking on suspicious links or providing personal information to these bots can jeopardize your security and privacy.
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Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Instagram bots may seem like a magic recipe for your account’s growth but offer many disadvantages. So, it’s important to identify them and protect your account. Remember, organic methods like creating helpful content and engaging with your followers are key to improving your presence.
FAQs
Here are some FAQs regarding our topic:
1. Are There Bots on Instagram?
Yes, there are bots on Instagram that automate following and unfollowing, liking, commenting, sending DMs, or viewing stories.
2. Why Are Bots Following Me on Instagram?
There are some reasons why bots are following you on Instagram:
- You’ve recently joined Instagram and they follow you in the hope of getting a follow back.
- You’re following accounts that are followed by bots.
- You’re using overly broad hashtags like #fashion or #love.
- Bots may follow accounts with certain locations or keywords in their profile.
3. Are Instagram Bots Legal?
Most bots on Instagram are illegal as they violate Instagram’s terms of use.
4. Are Instagram Bots Dangerous?
Yes, Ig bots can spread spam, malware, or phishing and put your security and privacy in danger.
