Signs That an Instagram Account Is Fake (and How to Stay Safe)
With its rapidly evolving algorithm, Instagram has become a breeding ground for fake accounts. While it is frustrating to come across inauthentic accounts, it can be concerning when it comes to safety on the platform. In this article, we’ll discuss signs that an Instagram account is fake and how to stay safe.
Here are some common warning signs:
- Zero or Significantly Fewer Followers
When you come across an account with no followers or only a handful, it is highly likely that the account is fake. Authentic Instagram accounts tend to have a specific number of followers, no matter how many posts they have made.
- Irrelevant Usernames or Handles
Bots that create fake accounts tend to come up with usernames that don’t make sense or have a generic name attached to them. The usernames are sometimes a combination of random characters that do not bear a resemblance to any human name.
- Poorly Written Account Bios
Fake accounts often have poorly written bios. Stilted sentences, inconsistent information, and nonsensical words are some of the warning signs to look out for. In other cases, the bios may just be blank.
- Fake Content
Some fake accounts post content that looks too good to be true. If an account only posts professionally edited photos or videos, it may be a sign that the account is fake. If the content is lifted from a different account (even without attribution), that is also a warning sign.
- Little or No Engagement
If an account has many posts, but there are no likes, comments or shares on any of them, it could be a sign that no one is seeing the content apart from the bot.
How to Stay Safe:
1. Don’t follow back if you get a follow request from a suspicious account. Blocking is a way to prevent them from having access to your account in the future.
2. Do not click on any links posted in the comments of your posts or direct messages of suspicious accounts. The links could lead to harmful websites or other phishing attacks.
3. Keep your profile private to ensure only those you accept as followers can see your content.
4. I f you are not sure about a particular account, do some research to find out if it is a legitimate account.
5. Use two-factor authentication to secure your Instagram account.
