5 Dead Giveaways of a Bot Account
Don't let fake followers ruin your engagement rate. Here is how to spot them.
Having 10,000 followers means nothing if 5,000 of them are bots. In fact, it hurts you. Instagram sees that 50% of your audience ignores your posts, so it decides your content is bad and hides it from the real people.
The Bot Checklist
1. The Missing Face
No profile picture, or a generic stock photo. Real humans usually want to express themselves.
2. The Impossible Ratio
Following 7,500 people but has only 15 followers? That's a follow-for-follow bot script.
3. The Username Smash
Usernames like
john_doe_9938214 or xxy.yy.123. Random numbers usually
indicate auto-generation.
4. The Sketchy Bio
Bios that only contain a link (especially 18+ links or crypto scams) and zero personal details.
How to Clean Them
Once you spot them, do not use an app to "Mass Remove" them—that causes shadowbans. Instead:
- Go to your profile -> Followers.
- Search for the suspicious name.
- Tap "Remove" (not Block, just Remove).
- Repeat for 10-20 accounts per day.
Slow and steady wins the algorithm race.