Recently, I’ve been getting many messages and emails asking about how to check for fake followers on Instagram. I understand the problem with fake followers and how they can harm an Instagram account. Because we write articles about getting free followers on Instagram, there might be websites offering fake followers without us knowing. To address this, I’ll discuss the dangers of having fake followers and explain how to check for and remove them. Keep reading to learn more.
Why it's Important to Check for Fake Followers
Social media sites like Instagram do better when people actually interact with each other. If I have a bunch of fake followers, it could make it harder for real people to see my posts and chat with me. Plus, having fake followers could mess up how others see me online and might even violate Instagram’s terms of service.
Risks of Ignoring Fake Followers
Having fake followers poses a significant problem. It’s not just about feeling good with more followers; it affects how many people see your Instagram posts. Instagram values real engagement, but fake followers disrupt these metrics, reducing visibility. Recognizing fake followers is crucial. A sudden increase in followers without more likes and comments signals a problem.
Fake followers damage credibility and revenue. Buying or using automation for fake followers can lead to Instagram banning your account. To stay safe, you must regularly check followers and report fake accounts. Ignoring them risks severe consequences, jeopardizing partnerships as brands prioritize genuine engagement.
How to Check Fake Followers on Instagram for Free?
I’ve tried many ways to see if my Instagram followers are real or fake, but not all of them give accurate results. However, I found a tool by “Starngage” that’s better than others. It doesn’t always give perfect results, but it provides enough information for us to check our fake followers. Here’s how you can check yours:
- Go to Starngage’s Free Fake Followers Checker page.
- Choose Instagram as your platform.
- Type in your Instagram username.
- Click “Submit.”
![How to Check and Remove Fake Followers On Instagram? (2024) 3 Fake Followers Instagram free check](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_auto,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1477,h_224/https://zefoy.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Fake-Followers-Instagram-free-check.png)
You’ll get a report on your account. In the example below, my Instagram account has a 6.31% engagement rate, a 100% audience quality score, and 800 fake followers.
![How to Check and Remove Fake Followers On Instagram? (2024) 4 How to Check Fake Followers On Instagram](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_auto,q_glossy,ret_img,w_811,h_359/https://zefoy.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/How-to-Check-Fake-Followers-On-Instagram.png)
That’s how you can check for fake Instagram followers. Suppose you sign up for the Starngage website. In that case, you can get even more details about your account, like Engagement per post, Engagement per day, Global rank, Country rank, Category rank, Audience brand affinity, and more.
How to Remove Fake Followers on Instagram?
As you saw, I have a lot of fake followers on Instagram – about 800 of them! That’s a significant number, and it’s not good for my account. Luckily, Instagram has come up with a way to help with this. They’ve added a feature that lets you remove fake followers easily.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Go to your Instagram app and click on the bar menu on your profile.
- Next, go to “Settings and Privacy.”
![How to Check and Remove Fake Followers On Instagram? (2024) 5 Remove Fake Followers On Instagram in bulk](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_auto,q_glossy,ret_img,w_829,h_736/https://zefoy.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Remove-Fake-Followers-On-Instagram-in-bulk.jpg)
- Then, find the option that says “Follow and invite friends” and tap on it.
![How to Check and Remove Fake Followers On Instagram? (2024) 6 How to Remove Fake Followers On Instagram](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_auto,q_glossy,ret_img,w_829,h_430/https://zefoy.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/How-to-Remove-Fake-Followers-On-Instagram.jpg)
- Turn on the “Filter spam followers” option.
![How to Check and Remove Fake Followers On Instagram? (2024) 7 Remove Fake Followers On Instagram](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_auto,q_glossy,ret_img,w_829,h_445/https://zefoy.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Remove-Fake-Followers-On-Instagram.jpg)
Now, go back to your profile and tap on “Followers.” You’ll see different tabs like Followers, Following, and Subscriptions. Look for a new tab called “Potential Spam.” Tap on it, and you can remove all the spam followers at once. But remember, not all of them might be spam, so Instagram lets you bring them back if you change your mind.
![How to Check and Remove Fake Followers On Instagram? (2024) 8 How to Remove spam Followers on instagram](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_auto,q_glossy,ret_img,w_289,h_561/https://zefoy.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/How-to-Remove-spam-Followers-on-instagram.png)
Just a heads up, if you don’t see the “Potential Spam” tab, it certainly is because you don’t have any fake followers right now.
Conclusion
It’s crucial to have real followers on Instagram to keep a genuine online profile and follow the rules. Fake followers can harm real interactions and put your account’s credibility at risk, possibly leading to penalties from Instagram. You can use tools like Starngage’s Fake Followers Checker to spot and deal with fake accounts. Also, Instagram offers a feature to filter out spam followers, making it easier to remove suspicious accounts. Focus on real engagement rather than just having a lot of followers to build a sincere and lasting online community. Keep an eye on your followers regularly and take steps to maintain your Instagram account’s integrity.