Have you ever scrolled through Instagram and come across an account with tens of thousands of followers, yet their posts barely get a handful of likes? I sure have. A very close friend of mine actually tried to buy followers on Instagram a while back, and let me tell you, things didn’t quite turn out as dreamy as they thought. If you’re thinking about taking the shortcut of purchasing followers, here’s why it might be more trouble than it’s worth—plus, I’ll sprinkle in some of my own experiences and missteps along the way.
What Does Buying Instagram Followers Even Mean?
Purchasing followers is like hiring a lot of stand-ins to fill the seats at a movie premiere: it creates the illusion of popularity, but in reality, there’s little behind it. You give your money to some service that promises you will gain so many followers, whether those are real people coaxed into a quick follow or completely fake bot accounts.
I remember when my friend Susan (let’s call her that, though she may recognize she’s the one if she happens to read this!) was originally so gung ho. She watched in awe as her followers went from 500 to 5,000 virtually overnight. Quickly enough though, she began to realize that this too was largely smoke and mirrors.
Why People Buy Followers on Instagram?
Social Proof: High follower counts can trick new visitors into thinking you’re hugely influential. It’s just human nature: if everyone else likes it, we think it must be good.
Instant Gratification: Organic growth can be like watching grass grow—slow and a bit painful. Buying followers offers a quick boost and a temporary ego lift.
Brand Collaborations: Some brands (usually smaller or less-savvy ones) only look at your follower count. This leads people to believe that the fastest way to brand deals is a bloated follower list.
Truth be told, I was briefly tempted by the idea myself. I had a small baking page where I showcased my cupcake experiments. The numbers were barely budging. I would think, “If I just had a couple thousand more followers, maybe I could start getting free baking supplies!” But then I saw what happened to Susan…
Legal and Ethical Headaches
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Instagram’s Terms of Service
Instagram specifically prohibits the use of fake accounts for artificial engagement. Getting caught can lead to shadow bans—where you’re basically invisible on the platform—suspension, or total account deletion. It’s kind of living on a fault line; you might be okay for a while, but one strong quake and it’s over.
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Misleading Real Users
The moment your real followers realize something’s off-say, your posts only getting 20 likes despite 10k followers-they’re going to question your authenticity. Once trust is broken, it’s tough to rebuild.
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Hurting Advertisers and Brands
Fake followers don’t comment, they don’t share, and they don’t buy. The brands that are paying you to promote goods won’t see any return, which could lead to some very uncomfortable conversations (and lost partnerships).
How the Buying Process Works
Platforms and Packages: Companies offer bundles like “500 followers” or “5,000 followers.” They often advertise “real accounts” or “organic growth,” but the truth is murky.
Types of Followers:
- Real Followers: Usually from incentivized follow-for-follow groups or shady promotions. They might never engage.
- Fake Followers: Straight-up bots that exist to pad numbers and nothing else.
If you’ve ever stumbled onto a suspicious website claiming they can deliver thousands of followers in an hour, you might want to run the other way. I learned the hard way when I used a site to buy a few Instagram “likes” for a friend’s post as a prank (yeah, not my proudest moment). The likes did show up, but a bunch of them disappeared within days, and we both got so paranoid about a potential account ban.
Benefits and (Big) Risks
Potential Benefits
- Instant Social Proof: You’ll look popular.at least on the surface.
- Confidence Boost: Seeing those numbers spike can be an ego massage.
- Short-Term Brand Deals: Sometimes, you might land a quick deal before anyone spots the fakes.
Significant Risks
- Account Suspension: Instagram has gotten better at finding inauthentic behavior.
- Low Engagement: Fake followers = zero meaningful interactions.
- Reputation Damage: The moment you get outed, credibility can be toast.
- Messed-Up Analytics: You won’t know who your real audience is if half your followers are bots.
Susan’s account was finally flagged, and in one big purge, she lost half of her followers. Her posts were now reaching fewer and fewer of her real followers, and she felt like she was in social media no-man’s-land.
Authentic Alternatives
1. Organic Growth
- Consistent, quality content: On a regular basis, post stuff that either adds value or entertains. If people enjoy your photos, videos, or captions, they’ll stick around and invite their friends.
- Use Hashtags Wisely: A few relevant hashtags will help new folks find you.
- Engage With Your Audience: Reply to comments, ask questions, and participate in discussions.
I noticed that when I started posting more behind-the-scenes shots of my failed cupcake experiments, and there were many, Instagram followers found it more relatable. My engagement went up when I showed my goofy side rather than just a polished final product.
2. Influencer Partnerships & Ads
- Collaborate: Partnering with someone in your niche can expose you to a fresh audience—no bots required.
- Targeted Instagram Ads: If you have a budget, spending it on ads designed to reach genuinely interested people can pay off better than fake followers ever could.
3. Instagram’s Built-In Features
- Reels, Stories, and Live Streams: They’re perfect for personal connections and real-time Q&As.
- Long-Form Videos: If you have knowledge or a skill to share (like me trying to perfect the triple-chocolate cupcake), going in-depth can draw in serious fans.
Final Thoughts (And a Slightly Embarrassing Confession)
I used to think that having a massive following was the golden ticket. A few times, I even clicked on those suspicious “get 100 new followers” ads—thankfully, I chickened out. Seeing Susan’s experience was enough of a cautionary tale. She ended up spending money and had her reputation tarnished when people realized her engagement was practically nonexistent.
Real relationships and authentic engagement from Views4You give you a foundation you can actually stand on. Yes, it’s slower. Yes, it’s more work. But the payoff, a community that actually cares and interacts, is a thousand times better than a bunch of silent, faceless bot accounts.
But if you still doubt buying followers, think to yourself: Really, is a number worth possibly losing credibility when it does not reflect reality? My guess would be no. Focus on your own content—something that reflects what you have to say for yourself—and genuine audience interaction with your growth and, at least, at your own pace. Trust me, your future self and brand will be grateful for these typos, typos included!
Got any tips or personal anecdotes about growing on Instagram? Share them in the comments below. I may not have 100k followers, but I promise I’ll actually read (and respond to) your messages!