Instagram removing inauthentic content
Service moves to crack down on the third-party apps that boost its users’ likes
If you’re on Instagram, and you get a kick out of seeing new “likes” of your posts and getting new followers you’ve never heard of, get ready to be disappointed.
Those numbers may soon drop.
As part of its ongoing efforts to secure its platform, Instagram says it has begun to remove what it calls “inauthentic” likes, followers and comments from the accounts of users that use third-party apps as a means of raising the popularity of their posts. The company said in a blog post that it was taking such steps in order to ensure the security of its community guidelines and usage terms.
“Every day people come to Instagram to have real experiences, including genuine interactions,” the company said. “It is our responsibility to ensure these experiences aren’t disrupted by inauthentic activity.”
Instagram said it is employing machine learning tools — artificial intelligence technology that lets computers “learn” from the data they receive without having to be reprogrammed — to identify and remove suspicious accounts. Any accounts that Instagram identifies as using the improper thirdparty apps will receive an in-app message telling them that the inauthentic likes, follows and comments have been removed, then ask those users to
secure their account by changing their password.
Instagram’s move comes as its owner, Facebook, continues to deal with negative attention over how its platform
has been used by political groups and other organizations in order to disseminate so-called “fake news” and also influence public opinion on a variety of issues.
Earlier this month, Facebook said it removed 85 Instagram accounts it deemed to be engaged in “coordinated inauthentic behavior” ahead of the Nov. 6 midterm elections.