Do Influencers Still Buy Instagram Followers in 2026? 4 Ways to Spot Them

Instagram influencer culture has evolved significantly since its early days, yet one controversial tactic persists: buying followers. Yes, some influencers still purchase fake followers in 2026, but it’s an increasingly risky and ineffective strategy. During the early rise of influencer marketing, buying followers was a common shortcut to appear popular, attract brands, and break out of the nano‑influencer zone. 

Unfortunately, the trend hasn’t vanished completely. Mid‑tier influencers, particularly those with 20K–100K followers, are the most prone to inauthentic growth tactics. Studies reveal that many accounts use purchased followers to give themselves a competitive edge. In a broader industry analysis, it’s estimated that about 15% of influencer followers globally are inauthentic, contributing to wasted ad spend and diluted campaign impact for brands. (Source: Affiliate Booster)

In this blog, you’ll learn why some influencers still buy followers, the real risks involved, and four reliable ways to detect fake accounts before partnering. By the end, you’ll know how to spot inauthentic audiences, avoid wasting marketing budget, and focus on genuine engagement that truly matters.

Why Do Instagram Influencers Still Buy Followers in 2026?

As most brands are shifting to Instagram, where attention, engagement, and social commerce now live, the competition for visibility has intensified. Thus, the race to lead on top with millions of followers also intensified. For many influencers, the motivation to buy followers is still rooted in vanity and perceived opportunity.

A big follower number looks impressive on the surface, and some creators think it will automatically impress brands or trigger favorable algorithm treatment. But in today’s market, engagement matters far more than follower count and purchased followers rarely interact with content, making the tactic ineffective and risky.

Buying followers can create unbalanced accounts: lots of followers, but little real interaction. Sophisticated brands can spot this quickly and often avoid partnerships with accounts that show this pattern.

| Real interactions matter more than inflated follower counts.

The Risks of Inflated Follower Counts

Here’s a quick snapshot of why inflated follower counts often backfire:

Risk Type	What Happens	Imapct
Low Engagement	High follower count but low likes/comments	Hurts credibility with brands and audiences
Algorithm Penalties	Instagram deprioritizes low‑engagement accounts	Reduced reach and visibility
Wasted Budget	Brands pay influencers who can’t deliver real reach	Lower ROI and brand dissatisfaction

| Check growth patterns and follower quality before partnerships.

Real-world stats show this isn’t rare. Research indicates up to 55% of Instagram influencers have used fake followers or similar tactics, and 25–30% of accounts may include significant fake audiences. 

Example: A beauty influencer buys 100K followers but averages 500 likes per post. Brands spot the 0.5% engagement (way below the 1–3% norm) and pass. Authentic growth builds lasting value; shortcuts destroy it.

For brands in 2026, inflated numbers aren’t just misleading; they can be expensive and strategically damaging when campaigns fail to connect with real humans. 

How Has Instagram Cracked Down on Fake Followers in 2026?

Instagram has become far more aggressive in combating fake followers and inauthentic engagement in 2026. With bots, fake accounts, and third‑party boosters once widespread, the platform now uses advanced machine learning and identity verification to protect real users and genuine content. This means influencers who once relied on purchased followers or artificial likes are facing real consequences. 

AI Detection & Automated Purges

Instagram now continuously runs AI that analyzes follower behavior and flags patterns such as sudden large spikes in followers or comments generated by automated tools. Accounts identified with inauthentic likes, follows, or comments are regularly purged. Instagram recently announced enhanced machine learning tools that remove these fake interactions automatically. (Source: DigitalTrends)

Shadowbans & Penalties

Offenders don’t just lose fake followers; their content can be shadowbanned, meaning posts are hidden from broader feeds and hashtag searches, severely reducing visibility. Persistent violation can lead to restrictions or even permanent suspension.

Enforcement Action	What It Means	Impact in 2026
Fake Follower Purges	Removes non‑authentic accounts	Sudden follower drops
Shadowbanning	Limits content discovery	Engagement and reach decline
Suspensions	Temporary account block	Loss of real audience momentum
Identity Verification	Requesting ID for flagged accounts	Reduces bot network abuse

Regional & Brand Support

In markets like the U.S., brands now demand audits before partnerships, forcing influencers toward authentic growth. Tools that leverage Instagram’s API and AI aid in real‑time audits and reduce influencer fraud.

Platforms are prioritizing real users over artificial metrics, making it more important than ever to focus on genuine engagement rather than inflated numbers.

Wanna avoid Instagram scrutiny?

What Are the 4 Reliable Ways to Check for Fake Instagram Followers?

Brands and individuals need reliable methods to detect purchased followers before investing time or money into influencer partnerships. Here are four proven strategies for evaluating follower authenticity.

1. Check the Follower-to-Engagement Ratio

The first and simplest check is comparing an influencer’s follower count to likes, comments, and shares. Engagement is the true measure of influence, not vanity metrics. On Instagram, average engagement rates vary by account size:

Account Size	Typical Engagement Rate
<10K followers	3-6%
10K–100K followers	2-4%
>100K followers	1–3%

Example: A travel influencer with 50K followers gets 100 likes on average. That’s 0.2%, screaming bots. Authentic small accounts hit 3–6%.

Key Red flags include:

• Thousands of followers, tiny interactions.
• Spikes in likes from pods (overly high, unnatural).
• Consistent underperformance across posts.

In short, the above-mentioned are the classic signals of a padded audience. Real followers interact naturally with posts, leaving varied and context-specific comments. Tools like HypeAuditor calculate this automatically.

| Regular posts and Reels signal authenticity to the algorithm.

2. Examine Follower Growth Patterns

Another key indicator is the pattern of follower growth over time. Authentic accounts typically grow gradually, while purchased followers often produce sudden spikes. 

What to look for:

• Rapid jumps: for example, going from 10K to 50K overnight without a viral post.
• Sharp drops in followers, which may occur after Instagram purges fake accounts.

Tools like Social Blade and HypeAuditor provide growth charts that reveal these unnatural patterns. Genuine growth aligns with real events, such as viral posts, collaborations, or shoutouts. Bought followers, on the other hand, create a “hockey-stick” spike in graphs that looks suspiciously artificial.

3. Conduct a Follower Quality Audit

It’s not just about numbers; look at who the followers actually are. Fake accounts often have telltale traits:

• Random or generic usernames (e.g., user123456)
• No profile picture or generic stock images
• Minimal or no posts
• Following thousands of accounts while having very few followers

Additionally, check if the audience demographics make sense for the influencer’s niche. Many fake follower services operate from countries unrelated to the target audience. For example, a U.S.-fashion influencer with 70% followers from unrelated regions is likely inflating numbers artificially.

4. Analyze Comment & Engagement Authenticity

Comments reveal a lot about authenticity. Signs of purchased engagement include:

• Generic messages like “Nice pic!” or emojis (“😍🔥”)
• Repetitive comments from the same accounts
• Comments in unrelated languages
• Coordinated comment pods where the same few users post in quick succession

High-quality engagement comes from real fans asking questions, tagging friends, or leaving detailed feedback. Even smaller accounts can have more impact on consumers if their comments are context-specific and genuine.

Examples of Fake Follower Detection

Here’s a real-world style comparison of two mid-tier fashion influencers in 2026:

Influencer	Followers	Avg. Likes	Engagement Rate	Notes
@FashionChic	75K	1.2K	1.6%	Follower spike overnight; generic comments detected
@StyleGuru	72K	4.2K	5.8%	Gradual growth; authentic, varied engagement

In this example, @FashionChic’s low engagement despite a large follower base signals possible fake followers, while @StyleGuru demonstrates organic growth with genuine interactions. Brands targeting authentic influence would likely choose @StyleGuru, even though her follower count is slightly lower.

How Can Brands Protect Against Influencer Fraud in 2026?

In 2026, brands must take proactive steps to avoid investing in influencers with fake followers. Instagram’s crackdown helps, but combining platform tools with smart auditing practices is key. Here’s how brands can protect themselves:

What Tools Help with Fake Follower Detection on Instagram? 

Brands and marketers in 2026 have access to several reliable tools for spotting fake followers and assessing influencer authenticity:

By combining these tools, brands can quickly detect irregular patterns, avoid partnerships with fake audiences, and focus on genuine influence.

Why Focus on Micro-Influencers?

Micro-influencers typically with 5K–50K followers, are increasingly valuable for brands because they often grow their audiences organically. Unlike larger accounts that may rely on purchased followers or engagement pods, micro-influencers tend to attract real, interested fans with their advanced but genuine content. This natural growth minimizes the risk of inflated metrics and fake followers, making partnerships more reliable.

Another major advantage is higher engagement rates. Micro-influencers often achieve 5–10% engagement, compared to 1–3% for larger accounts, meaning their posts reach and resonate with more real users. This translates to authentic influence, where smaller niche audiences trust recommendations and are more likely to take action.

| Smaller, niche audiences often convert better and trust influencers more.

What Are the Best Practices for Brands to Avoid Influencer Fraud in 2026?

To protect against influencer fraud and maximize campaign ROI, brands in 2026 should focus on an authentic Instagram strategy rather than vanity metrics. The first step is auditing followers using reliable checks such as the follower-to-engagement ratio, growth patterns, follower quality, and comment authenticity. This ensures the influencer’s audience is real and engaged, not artificially inflated.

Brands should also look beyond total follower counts, paying attention to likes, shares, comments, and meaningful audience interactions. It helps in providing a clearer picture of influence. Use of verified tools gives detailed analytics to make informed partnership decisions. Finally, avoid impulse collaborations; large follower numbers alone are not enough. 

By taking these steps, brands reduce the risk of wasted marketing spend on influencers with fake audiences.

How Can ShortVids Help Brands and Influencers in 2026?

ShortVids is a subscription-based agency that offers services helping creators and brands build real engagement and authentic Instagram growth without relying on fake followers. With professional video editing services, your content becomes more engaging and shareable. And you’ll get results in the form of higher genuine interactions that matter for influencer credibility and brand ROI.

ShortVids also repurposes long‑form videos into Instagram Reels and short clips. It helps accounts stay consistent and maintain audience interest, which is a key factor in organic growth.

Case Study: We helped creator Gene Slade’s Instagram grow by around 50K real followers through consistent, high‑quality short‑form content that increased views, engagement, and lead generation across platforms. After partnering with ShortVids, Gene saw his social content reach millions and build an engaged Instagram audience that brand and followers trust.

Boost your Instagram reach with ShortVids’ unlimited video editing. Start creating scroll-stopping Reels today!

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