[…] With the new algorithm, Instagram is hard to build up a following on (make sure to check out my post on why we all hate Instagram here). […]
I’ve heard/read about bloggers of all niche’s complaining about how shit Instagram is with the new (well not really new) algorithm and how difficult it is to retain followers and increase your engagement.
When I started to really review my followers on the app Followers+ (I definitely recommend if you’re a blogger and want to review your progress) I couldn’t believe how many times I’d taken part in Instagram follow trains on Twitter or on Facebook blogger pages, only to find out that the many bloggers I’d taken the time out to follow, hadn’t reciprocated as per the rules of the thread! And here’s why Followers+ is so great – you can check who isn’t following you back, your new followers, who has unfollowed you and a hell of a lot more if you’re willing to pay!
I got up on a frosty Saturday morning with a cup of tea, sat in front of the telly and opened up the app to see what progress I’d made only to find that I’d lost 4 followers throughout the night and over 20 followers in the last week. And it pissed me off. So I thought I’d put together a list of 5 reasons why we all hate Instagram;
1. The Algorithm
I know that we all collectively moan about it, but if you don’t know what’s so crap about it, I’m here to tell you why.
Back before the days of Facebook owning Instagram, posts were shared in a chronological order meaning that all of your followers would see your content when you uploaded giving you some fair exposure. However, since they implemented the algorithm, this is no longer the case and when you upload posts they aren’t seen by all of your followers. I’ve seen posts from some of my favourite ‘grammers which were uploaded 4, 5 sometimes 6 days before! Engagement has gone down and increasing your Followers is becoming more of a challenge than it used to be.
Unless you’re a famous Kardashian where all is well in your world.
2. Bots/ Fake Accounts
Bots or fake accounts are the ones that are most likely to be the accounts that follow/unfollow you with minimal pictures, followers and random names (I’ve seen a lot of them are just a jumble of numbers). These kinds of accounts violate Instagram’s terms of use so they don’t normally last too long and are the accounts that build up someone’s following when they pay for followers and likes. You’ll also notice that the genuine accounts which follow, then unfollow may have paid for a bot to follow loads of people, then unfollow the next day once they’ve gained some follow backs.
3. Users that buy followers/ likes
This has been such a hot topic amongst bloggers on Twitter this year especially and is something we as a community collectively hate.
Bloggers that have paid for their followers/likes are giving an inflated impression of how much influence they have on their audience and can cast a shadow over smaller bloggers with a genuine, organic following. This isn’t to say that people that have a huge following necessarily have bought their followers as there are some amazing bloggers/ Youtubers/Instagrammers out there that have grown their following organically over many years, but be wary of those who have shot up out of nowhere – you may well find that they’ve paid for that shit.
4. The Follow/Unfollowers
This one kind of intertwines with the last 2 reasons as you’ll find that some serial follow/unfollowers are the ones that are using bots and paying for followers/likes, but there are just some a-holes out there that participate in follow threads which don’t reciprocate. There’s a site called Social Blade where you can check some of your favourite Instagrammers, Youtubers and Twitter users social stats.
This site highlights the ones that are most likely using bots/buying followers and is a great tool for exposing the fakes. I normally check this if someone has unfollowed me just to chastise them to myself like a true Brit, muttering profanities under my breath.
5. It can be bad for your mental health
There have been so many studies and other posts which have covered this reason, so I thought it fair to acknowledge it in my reasons why we all hate Instagram, but won’t delve into it – I’m not here for regurgitating content that’s already out there.
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the wonder world that is Instagram with the beautiful images giving a snapshot of some fantasy life which can make us mere mortals feel like absolute shit. It’s easy to compare yourself to that girl that’s got the envious makeup, hair, clothes *insert anything else someone could envy here* which is a sad fact about society today.
And there we have it, five reasons why we all hate (or should hate) Instagram. Now let me just go and upload another #ootd post, because as much as I hate it – I love it too.
bloggersbotsbuying followersfashion blogfashion bloggerfollowers+InstagramInstagram algorithm
Yea, I don’t have an insta account. I feel like the worst millennial, but it looks like I am avoiding some heart ache!
100% 😂 sometimes I wonder why I put myself through it!
I made a post a while about why I’m not on there. Thought I was missing out but it seems like a bit of a nightmare!
Ahh I’ll have to go check it out! And more so in the last couple of months!
Here’s the link if you’re interested: https://craftupyourlife.wordpress.com/2017/10/27/why-i-dont-instagram/
The pressures of Instagram are unreal, that said, I feel like I need to have it 😂🙈 No, my IG doesn’t look like the studio of a flat lay queen, I do however prefer it looking like a variety of pics because that adequately describes my blog and life. Great post, I could totally identify with all of it!
Thank you and I’m literally the worst person on earth at putting together flatlays 😂😂 and I feel the same about needing to have it!
I have been finding instagram so hard. I finally thought i was getting somewhere and then it all just slowed down.
I know right?! Hopefully it’ll get better but it’s a long old slog!
I relate so much to it affecting your mental health! It’s so easy to slip into comparing yourself to others on Instagram, whether it’s looks wise or being jealous of their lifestyles or whatever. Sometimes it’s good to just take a break from it. The thing I hate the most is that it’s not in chronological order, drives me up the wall! x
Alice http://www.accordingtoalicex.com
Ahh I bloody miss chronological order 😩😂 and 100% on the mental health front – I had a bad few months of being ill this year and felt like utter shit going on there and seeing everyone all healthy! Xx
Omg all this is sooo true! It is really annoying but I feel like if you keep at it, it will definitely improve! I’ll give you a follow on Instagram too! Xx
Sophia || Sophia’s Sphere || pearlsofsphere.blog 🌺
Ahh thanks lovely, I’ll make sure to follow you back! And I hope so! Cx
Just noticed I already follow you! Haha xx
Haha oh yeah!! I already follow you too 😂 xx
Haha what are we like 😂 xx
I’ve been trying to grow my IG so much this year but I just feel like it’s always one step forward and two steps back! It can be so deflating putting so much effort into it and pictures/captions etc to get about 30 likes with 1000 followers… the algorithm does my head in! I try and not let it get to me anymore but it is hard :/
Alice Xx
http://www.blacktulipbeauty.co.uk
So hard not to!! I’ve had posts with like 30 likes and the next one gets double – it makes no sense!! 😂 we’ll get there in the end I guess xx
Instagram is so frustrating at the moment and it seems like for every step forward there’s two back ! Hopefully Instagram sorts its shit out soon and we can get back to enjoy the app for what it is x
I bloody hope they do – doing my nut in 😂 and that’s exactly how I feel at the mo! Xx
Instagram is unfortunately becoming my least favourite platform even tho I love using it as I’m such a visual person 🙁 xx
Me too! I love looking through feeds and seeing amazing images, but the crap does outweigh the good sometimes! Xx
I agree so much.Really liked this post so you got yourself a new follower.
Ahh thank you lovely and welcome! 🤗❤️
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