Local bloggers exposed for buying fake instagram followers

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

LOCAL BLOGGERS EXPOSED FOR BUYING FAKE INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS

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21 Dec 2014 - 9:51am








Instagram might have gone purging for bots and spam accounts… However, I’m pretty positive that there are still many fake accounts created; lurking in the darkness of instagram, that requires a second round of clearing and authenticating.


Seeing this notification first hand, I went around to have a look at people that I’ve long suspected to have succumb to buying followers:
Crystal, a fashion blogger that I’ve never heard of, nor have any of my friends. When asked if she’s famous, I was told that she’s popular in other genre (the dance and fashion industry). I gave my benefit of doubt, but was proven right in the end.
A drop in more than 60% is just ridiculous.


Then we have Rachel, a brand owner, who is actually pretty known in the beauty and blogging industry.
Although I’ve already expected the drop, but I definitely didn’t see this coming:


Too many of them that I know of and are acquainted with. From brand owners, to fashion bloggers, entertainers, artists and more. I guess the temptation was just too hard to resist.
I’ve started using instagram a lot later than most people, as I’m just stubborn and would prefer to stick to platforms that I’m more familiar with (e.g. blog and facebook). It was only when facebook acquired the application on April 2012, that I began accepting the fact that I must move on with the trend. However, since most people were more willing to try out different social media platforms, they have already garnered following as early as 2010/11.
So why didn’t I buy instagram followers? After all, I started with as little as a few hundred followers and many pioneer bloggers already had thousands by then. I was lagging behind badly.
But I just knew, that the purging for instagram would come. It was a matter of time. But of course, I said it not without any background information.
Actually, Facebook has long had their purge before our recent encounter on instagram. On August 1 2012, Facebook announced that as many as 9-percent of its profiles were duplicates, misclassified or undesirable accounts. Facebook then begun the purge of fake and undesirable accounts.
According to TechCrunch, “illegitimately created accounts are being deleted, and Likes gained from malware, compromised accounts, or deceived users are being removed.”
I must emphasize that this does not equate to me having better morals than any of those who have purchased their followers.
I can only say that I stuck through and remained genuine because social media was my rice bowl and I didn’t want to do anything non-legitimate to jeopardize it.






Of course, I have been affected by their unethical antics- with clients comparing my rates to these “fake buyers” instagrammers’. But I don’t entirely blame it on them. Temporary fame is always satisfying and it’s understandable why many would fall into temptations, especially when it’s so readily available on the internet these days!
Like I’ve always said: “You can cheat in exams, get the best results, but you can never ace an interview if your boss isn’t dumb.”
It’s time for clients to do some thorough research before they decide on engaging any influencers to advertise on their brands. Don’t trust blindly with what that is being presented to you. Ask around, the numbers should add up. Trust your instincts; if you feel that they are not known, they probably aren’t.
“Local bloggers lose followers but not integrity. We welcome clean-up.”
Purging at instagram cuts down attempts at gaming the platform which negatively affects trust in advertising.

Juice Bits
*Article first appeared on http://www.thydowager.com/juicebits/2014/12/19/now-we-all-know-who-bough...


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