Instagram to crack down harder on inflated follower counts
Instagram will take tougher action against fake follower counts in the future. The platform warned its users late Monday that followers, «likes,» and comments generated by automated apps will be deleted.
In recent months, apps that can simulate a higher level of activity on profiles have become popular. Users with more followers can hope to pass as so-called "influencers" and perhaps conclude advertising deals with brands whose products they can showcase. Instagram wants to use software to identify artificially enhanced profiles.
Facebook and Instagram are already deleting fake accounts on a large scale, especially after they played a key role in political propaganda from Russia during the 2016 US presidential election campaign. According to Facebook, it deleted a good 750 million fake accounts in the last quarter alone. (SDA)
