Will IG Ban You for Buying Followers? Find Out the Truth

Profile photo of Karen Lin, author

Karen Lin

Instagram 101 | Apr 19, 2023

Want More Real Instagram Followers?

These days, everyone is highly conscious about the number of followers they have on social media. From individuals to big businesses, your follower count means a lot. With this in mind, many people have bought Instagram followers to boost their audience. But are there any repercussions to doing this? More specifically, will IG ban you for buying followers?

This question has been at the top of people’s minds since paying for followers was first introduced. It frequently makes the rounds as a hot topic on the internet, and the answer can vary depending on who you are talking to. Are you eager to find out the proper truth? As it turns out, the answer lies in a bit of a grey area.

Don’t worry; we are here to help clear things up a bit more. Read on below as we break it all down for you. We will cover everything, from fake follower consequences to recommending a few trusted Instagram growth agencies.

A person with a post-it covering her mouth.

Why Do You Want To Buy More IG Followers?

So, will IG ban you for buying followers? Before we answer the question on everyone’s mind, let’s first learn why you would want to buy followers. If you are a small brand or learning to become an influencer, your follower count can significantly impact your business. More eyes on your content help to promote your good and services. Additionally, a larger audience has a positive impact on your engagement rate.

Your engagement rate is one of the Instagram business analytics that matters most on social media. It refers to how actively involved with your content your audience is. It compares your total number of followers to your average number of likes, reactions, shares, and comments per post. Essentially, a measure of how well your content performs.

However, expanding your Instagram audience with authentic followers can take months or even years. Instead, many people turn to outside help. Using available resources to expand your reach and audience can be a social media growth marketing strategy. In addition to increasing your brand awareness and reach, it can free up hours of your day. This allows influencers and business owners time to focus on other vital parts of their business.

Is It Safe To Pay For Your Audience, or Will IG Ban You for Buying Followers?

To answer the question, “Will IG ban you for buying followers” you will first want to learn if this practice is safe. We are here to assure you that it is entirely legal to buy Instagram followers. While many social growth management companies are legitimate businesses, you will always want to proceed cautiously. Before signing up for any service, ensure that you follow the rules.

We recommend doing extensive research whenever you use a third-party app or website. Get all the facts beforehand, including payment details and account login requirements. This way, there are no surprises or potential threats to your Instagram profile and content.

Remember, if something sounds too good to be true – it probably is. Some websites may make grand promises but fill your audience with spam accounts and Instagram bots instead. Still, others may have hidden in-app charges you were initially unaware of.

Luckily, there are many reliable follower growth service websites that you can use in confidence to buy followers. Many even highlight genuine user reviews right on their website. Some even offer money-back guarantees or a free followers’ trial period to test their services. These will give you the peace of mind you need to get started.

A man researching the question of will IG ban you for buying followers?

How Can You Tell if an IG Account Has Fake Followers?

One of the most important factors regarding your Instagram audience is the type of followers you have. Will IG ban you for buying followers if they are fake? You must understand the difference between real and fake followers to answer this. As it turns out, this can significantly impact any repercussions.

The fake follower industry has exploded over the last couple of years. It started long before engagement metrics and analytics were important. At one time, it was simply about the number of followers you had – and nothing else. However, buying fake followers can now be detrimental to your Instagram account. Wondering why?

It can be easy to tell if an Instagram account has fake profiles in its audience. This is because spam accounts are not real, meaning they don’t like, comment or share your content. This is a telltale sign that you paid for fake followers. For example, people will realize something is amiss if you have 5,000 followers but only five posts per like.

Spam accounts can also lead to fake engagement – or no engagement at all. A large number of followers but low interaction will significantly decrease your engagement rate.

When you purchase genuine and authentic followers, you can feel more secure in your decision. Many top Instagram growth agencies offer premium active followers, which provide growth and engagement. This is the best possible outcome when paying to increase your audience.

Will IG Ban You for Buying Followers? The Answer Revealed.

So, will IG ban you for buying followers? The answer lies in a grey area. As you learned above, paying for Instagram followers is entirely legal. However, doing so goes against Instagram’s current community guidelines and terms of service. According to this, it is highly encouraged that you help to keep the platform spam-free. This is done by only collecting genuine likes, followers, shares, and comments.

While buying followers is widespread, you will want to do it intelligently. As we mentioned above, look for a third-party app or website that promises high-quality and active followers. If you have an influx of fake followers, Instagram may take notice.

One possible outcome is that the social media platform may limit your exposure. This will hurt your account in the long run. Instagram can prohibit your content from being seen by your followers and other platform members.

Another possible consequence that people worry about is having their Instagram account suspended or closed. Both scenarios can be detrimental to your brand or business. Let’s take a look at these questions below.

 A woman looking up the answer to the question, will IG ban you for buying followers?

Will IG Ban You for Buying Followers by Suspending Your Account?

If they find out you have paid for followers, will IG ban you for buying followers by suspending your account? Again, we must clarify the answer to this question, as it lies in a grey area. As mentioned above, buying followers goes against Instagram’s community guidelines. But what happens if they find you in violation? What actions will they take?

According to many reports, it seems rare for Instagram to suspend your account. This means that the social media platform would place a temporary ban on your account. Usually, this lasts for 24-48 hours. However, they can extend the ban if you continue poor online behavior. During a suspension, you cannot access your profile or share any content.

While Instagram can technically ban you for buying followers, they seem unlikely to take action. This may be because so many accounts are currently buying followers. Additionally, if you are buying real followers, it will be much harder for the social media appt to spot this. It is in your best interest to ensure you pay for high-quality followers to avoid any issues.

Will IG Ban You for Buying Followers by Closing Your Account?

Another common worry is this – will IG ban you for buying followers by closing your account? Like what we reviewed above, buying followers is discouraged according to Instagram’s community guidelines. This includes buying likes, views, and comments on third-party apps and websites.

However, would IG ever take the drastic step to close your account? While possible, it does seem unlikely that this would happen. After all, followers are bought every day by numerous Instagram accounts. It would be hard to identify them all. But we should warn you that it is within their rights, according to their community guidelines.

If Instagram finds you violating any terms of service, you could face disciplinary action. This includes them banning you from the platform. Many reports believe this to be a last resort and typically reserved for accounts that have racked up many infractions.

Again, we encourage you to use the best and honest practices when expanding your reach. Let’s continue the conversation below and address the safest way to buy Instagram followers. You will want to ensure that the followers you are paying for are both genuine and active.

A closeup of a person scrolling through Instagram on their smartphone.

What Is the Safest Way To Buy Instagram Followers?

Many may still want to buy Instagram followers – even with the abovementioned risks. If this is you, we recommend going about it the right way. By this, you will want to focus on websites that deliver real followers.

Will IG ban you for buying followers if they are authentic and come from trusted sources? This seems unlikely to happen. As you know, genuine followers are actual people, not just spam accounts. Identifying any wrongdoing with active users who engage with your content can be more challenging.

Since real followers are commonly active on the social media app, it is more likely that they will engage and participate in your content. This is the goal. It will significantly increase your engagement rate and help grow your online presence organically.

Below, read on as we highlight three popular options for third-party websites to buy Instagram followers. We recommend checking out our list to see which aligns with your needs and wants. Doing in-depth research ensures you use the best possible resource for your Instagram account. These will help you grow your audience and expand your social media reach.

Will IG Ban You for Buying Followers When Using Path Social?

One of the best sites to buy real Instagram followers is Path Social. They are one of the top leading Instagram management agencies, focusing on the quality of service they provide. Path Social utilizes a combination of AI technology and influencer collaborations to hit growth goals.

However, will IG ban you for buying followers when you use Path Social? This is unlikely because Path Social prides itself on “No bots. No fake users.” With them, you know you are getting high-quality followers who actively engage with your content.

For them, it’s all about understanding their client’s target audience and how to reach them best. This includes identifying characteristics like age, gender, location, and social pursuits. The result is target outreach to connect with organic followers interested in your brand and product.

Another essential factor that interests you is how Path Social operates and interacts with your Instagram account. You don’t have to provide your Instagram login information to use the service or provide them with your password. This means there is no risk to your Instagram account. You can confidently use their services to reach your Instagram goals without risking any harm to your account.

Will IG Ban You for Buying Followers When Using Aigrow?

Another recommendation for a reputable third-party website to boost your social media audience is AiGrow. Like Path Social, AiGrow uses a built-in AI growth engine and boasts a dedicated Instagram account manager. The company delivers real followers for its clients and intends to hit between 300 and 1,000 per month.

While this sounds promising, you may wonder – will IG ban you for buying followers if you use AiGrow? This seems unlikely to happen. One thing that sets AiGrow apart is that they offer much more than just a way to buy followers. Other features include post-scheduling, hashtag monitoring, and direct messaging.

This means they are a complete social media growth service and can manage your entire Instagram experience. You will feel comfortable and confident knowing that your profile is in capable hands.

You have plenty of pricing and payment method options when signing up for AiGrow. From starter plans to premium monthly memberships, there’s something for everything. We suggest identifying your top Instagram needs and selecting a program that caters best to them. Getting started is easy, as most of their tiered pricing comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Two friends researching if IG will ban you for buying followers.

Will IG Ban You for Buying Followers When Using Buzzoid?

Finally, allow us to highlight a growth service called Buzzoid. They are one of many web-based services enabling users to buy Instagram followers, likes, and views. Buzzoid offers an easy way to grow your social media presence and engagement rate quickly. Will IG ban you for buying followers if you utilize the help of Buzzoid to grow your audience?

Again, a ban for using a reputable service like Buzzoid seems unlikely. Along with buying likes, followers are the most popular purchase service they offer. Something that sets them apart is that you have the option between types of followers. They describe their high-quality followers as Instagram profiles with profile pictures but no other uploads on their account. As a step above, their active followers can provide serious growth and engagement.

If you sign up for Buzzoid, you can confidently feel secure in your decision. Their customer support team will never ask you for certain information, like your password. Instead, all they require is your Instagram handle and email address. From here, they get to work, and you can see results within minutes, thanks to their instant delivery.

At Path Social, we’ve built up an in-house platform of Instagram influencers and an AI-targeting algorithm over the past decade. That’s how we organically target and reach users that engage in your content. And that’s why no one can replicate our results, which means you’ll build an Instagram community that lasts! Start growing and gaining Instagram followers today.