Are you getting spam likes on Instagram? Fret not, you’re not alone as many other users are in the same boat.
When you get a burst of likes in a short span of time, it is classified as spam liking. Not only is it frustrating but can also lead to Instagram shadow-banning your account.
In this article, we will discuss the reasons why you’re getting spam likes on Instagram and practical solutions to fix it.
Let’s dive right into it.
Why I am getting random burst of likes on Instagram (Spam likes)
Short Answer: You might be getting random bursts of likes on Instagram due to bot activity, posting viral content, having a humongous following, engaging in collaborations & shoutouts, using popular hashtags, or being featured in the explore section of Instagram.
Let’s have a closer look at each reason:
Reason#1: Bot Activity
The primary reason why you’re getting a burst of likes on Instagram is automated bot interactions. There are plenty of third-party apps that can generate automatic likes to artificially boost engagement. While this might seem like a quick way to get engagement on your post, it’s not a sustainable strategy in the long run.
Reason#2: Viral Content
If you’ve recently posted a reel showing your moves or any content in general that has gone viral, it could translate to receiving a burst of likes on Instagram.
Reason#3: More Followers
If you have a significant amount of followers who religiously engage with your content, you’re more likely to get a surge in likes every time you post a piece of content.
Reason#4: Collaborations or Shoutouts
The next reason on the list for sudden surges in Instagram likes are collaboration and shoutouts. If you’ve recently collaborated with an influencer or received a shoutout from them, your content will get more exposure, resulting in more likes.
Reason#5: Popular Hashtags
Another possibility is that you’ve used a popular and trending hashtag which is why you’re receiving enormous amounts of likes.
Reason#6: Featured or Recommended
Instagram’s intelligent algorithm promotes relevant content on the platform. It is possible that Instagram has featured your content on the Explore page or recommended it to the relevant audience, which in turn leads to a spike in likes.
That being said, it’s important to note that getting a burst of likes on Instagram from spam accounts is not normal. In fact, it can even prove lethal for your Instagram account if not stopped immediately. Continue reading to learn how to stop getting spam likes on Instagram.
Fix: getting spam likes on instagram
If you’re someone who does not want to get in trouble because of spam likes, you might want to stop them. Listed below are several ways to keep spam likes at bay:
Fix#1: Switching Your Account Private
If you’re annoyed by spam liking, you may want to change the status of your account. By making your account private on Instagram, you mitigate the risk of spam liking and Instagram flagging your account as suspicious.
Here’s how you do it:
- Step 1: Launch your Instagram app
- Step 2: Tap on your Profile Picture located at the bottom-right corner of the screen
- Step 3: Next, tap on the Hamburger Icon (three horizontal lines) at the upper-right corner
- Step 4: Go to Settings and Privacy
- Step 5: Scroll down and tap on Account Privacy
- Step 6: Switch on the toggle button for Private Account
NOTE: Make sure the toggle button is blue/green and pushed toward the right
By doing so, you’re account will be switched to private, and only the people you allow will have access to your content.
Fix#2: Block and Report Spammy Profiles
If you’re getting a bunch of spam likes, start reporting and blocking the spammy accounts so that Instagram knows that you’re not in favor of this activity.
To block and report a spammy Instagram account, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Navigate your way to the Profile of an individual you want to block
- Step 2: Tap on the Ellipsis Icon (three dots) at the top-right corner
- Step 3: Tap on Block
- Step 4: Select Block and Report
- Step 5: Now, tap on Something Else
- Step 6: Tell them that It’s Spam and you’re done!
Fix#3: Refrain From Using Trendy Hashtags
If you’re using trendy hashtags to increase your post’s visibility, you may unknowingly draw the attention of spam accounts. These spam accounts tend to target posts using widely-used hashtags. Therefore, we firmly advise avoid using popular hashtags. Instead, use hashtags that are relevant to your content and audience.
Fix#4: Avoid Engaging in the “Like for Like” Scheme
Many of us are guilty of engaging in “Like for Like” and “Follow for Follow” schemes at some point. While these schemes might seem like a quick way to get traction on your Instagram account, they can cause you trouble as well. When you engage in these schemes, it can attract unwanted spam accounts and even lead to Instagram flagging your account as spam. To mitigate the risk of being shadowbanned on Instagram, focus on building a community that genuinely likes your content.
Fix#5: Make use of Instagram’s Comment Filters
Did you know Instagram offers filters that enable you to control who can comment on your posts? By utilizing these filters, you can choose to receive comments only from accounts you follow or those who follow you. This feature helps in reducing the burst of spam comments, which more often than not accompany spam likes.
Here’s how you can do this:
- Step 1: Tap on the Three Horizontal Lines in the upper-right corner
- Step 2: Go to Settings and Privacy
- Step 3: Scroll down and tap on Hidden Words
- Step 4: Make sure to switch the toggle button for Hide Comments and Advanced Comment Filtering
Fix#6: Limit Who Can Tag or Mention You
Another thing you can do to reduce the influx of spam likes is to limit who can tag or mention you on Instagram. One of the tactics used by spammers is to tag random accounts under their posts to attract attention. When you’re tagged under spammers’ posts, more spammers will come across your profile and bombard you with spam likes. To avoid this, you can limit who can tag you or mention you allowing only accounts you follow or those who follow you thereby closing the door for spammers to tag you.
To do so, you’ll need to:
- Step 1: Tap on Three Horizontal Lines in the upper-right corner
- Step 2: Go to Settings and Privacy
- Step 3: Scroll down and go to Tags and Mentions
- Step 4: Select Allow tags from people you follow and Allow mentions from people you follow
See More:
- Why Am I Not Getting Likes On Instagram (7 Tips)
- How To Fix Instagram Not Showing Likes
- Can Restricted Accounts See Instagram Story, Likes, Posts, Followers
In The End:
To wrap things up, spam likes can make your posts look unauthentic and artificial. Unfortunately, there’s no permanent way to stop spam liking on Instagram. Nevertheless, you can follow the top tips outlined in this article to control spam likes. We hope you found this information valuable. Wishing you a great rest of the day!
An experienced technical writer who specializes in simplifying technical jargon. Being a lifelong learner, she stays up-to-date with the latest trends and tools in the world of technology. When she’s not writing technical stuff, you can find her reading self-help books.