A very common phenomenon on Instagram and similar platforms: Some profiles follow you in the hope that you will follow them back. But if you don’t, they quickly unfollow you again. This is a tactic to increase your own number of followers. Some users may initially follow you to critically review your content. If they find that your account does not meet their expectations or they are no longer interested, they will of course unfollow you.
There are also trends that unfortunately encourage this kind of behavior. It can be a kind of competition to have as many followers as possible. After all, sometimes they are bots or fake accounts that follow others en masse without having any real interest. It is important not to let yourself be influenced too much by these dynamics and to focus on the interactions that are really important to you.
More followers at any cost
The dynamics on social media are constantly changing, which can be confusing or frustrating for many users.
1. Competition: Users try to behave like influencers by following others relatively spontaneously to increase their reach in general, but unfollowing just as quickly if they do not receive the expected return visit.
2. Follow-for-follow: This is a common strategy in which users follow others in the hope that they will reciprocate. This behavior is encouraged in the comments or in special groups.
3. Engagement: Users work together in an organized manner to increase the visibility of their respective posts. They follow each other and actively engage with each other’s content to increase interactions.
4. Visual appeal: Some users follow others to improve their own profile aesthetic. If the content no longer fits the intended overall impression, they quickly disappear again.
5. Challenges: Social media users are often encouraged to follow others or interact in groups just to be part of a short-term trend, even though they are not really interested in the content.
What is damaging trust in social media
Fake accounts can come from real people with false identities or from fictional characters. A common reason is the manipulation of public opinion, for example through political messages or the spread of disinformation. Some users also simply create fake profiles to artificially increase their own content and reach by faking likes and followers.
Bots, on the other hand, are automated programs that can operate on social media. They are not human and have been programmed to perform certain tasks. For example, bots can automatically post tweets, leave comments or give likes to increase engagement or point out certain events. They are also often used to spread spam messages or generate a high number of interactions.
Measures to combat identity fraud
The operators of Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok or Snapchat take various measures to combat fake accounts. First of all, they rely on algorithms and machine learning to detect suspicious activity. These technologies analyze patterns in user behavior, such as unusually high interactions within a short period of time or the creation of many accounts from the same IP address.
Another important element is the ability for users to report suspicious profiles. Platform operators review these reports and may take action such as blocking or deleting fake accounts. Some platforms even offer extensive help pages and information to educate users on signs of fake profiles and encourage them to be vigilant.
Many platforms offer an identity verification feature. You may be asked to provide personal information such as your full name, address, or date of birth. In some cases, you may also need to upload documents. Enable two-factor authentication to further secure your account. You will then receive a verification code on your mobile phone or email address, which must be entered to log in. If you have any difficulties, you can contact customer support.
