Inactive or fake accounts that follow an Instagram profile are often referred to as phantom followers. These accounts typically do not engage with the content shared by the profile they follow; they neither like, comment, nor view stories. An example would be an account with no profile picture, a string of random characters for a username, and zero posts that still follows numerous other accounts.
The presence of these disengaged accounts can negatively impact a profile’s engagement rate, which is a key metric used to gauge audience interaction and the overall health of an Instagram presence. Furthermore, inflated follower counts, due to the existence of these accounts, provide a distorted perception of genuine audience size and influence. Understanding the origins and impact of these non-participating accounts is essential for maintaining an authentic and valuable online presence.
