Instagram updates and follower changes in May 2026

The May 2026 Instagram bot purge

Instagram carried out a significant bot purge in May 2026, removing millions of fake and inactive accounts from the platform. This action affected numerous celebrities and creators, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Virat Kohli, Kylie Jenner, and Priyanka Chopra, who each lost millions of followers as a result.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

The purge was part of Instagram’s official crackdown on fake accounts to improve platform integrity.[2] Even Instagram’s own account experienced follower losses.[7]

For most ordinary accounts, this purge means that sudden follower drops during May were likely not due to any personal action but were caused by Instagram removing fake accounts.

Algorithm crackdown on reposted content

In early May, Instagram updated its algorithm to discourage reposted and duplicate content. This change reduced the visibility of accounts that frequently repost content rather than creating original posts.[8][9][10]

The update sparked controversy among creators, with some expressing frustration about how the changes affected their reach and follower growth.[8]

Accounts relying heavily on reposted content may have seen slower follower growth or drops in engagement during May.

Algorithm changes favoring small, high-engagement creators

Alongside the repost crackdown, Instagram rolled out algorithm changes designed to benefit small creators who have high engagement rates. These changes aim to help smaller accounts gain more visibility and grow their follower base.[11][12]

This shift means that smaller creators with active audiences might experience improved follower growth, while larger influencers could see relative changes in reach.

Meta’s AI underage detection rollout

Meta began using AI technology to analyze users’ physical features such as height and bone structure to identify underage users in select countries.

This system could lead to account restrictions or removals if users are detected to be underage, which might affect follower counts for those accounts.

Creators should ensure their account information complies with Instagram’s age policies to avoid unexpected follower losses.

Launch of Instagram paid subscriptions

In late May, Meta officially launched paid subscription plans for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp worldwide.

These subscriptions may affect follower engagement and retention by offering exclusive content or features to paying followers.

Creators might see changes in follower interaction patterns as some followers convert to paid subscribers.

Instagram app outages reported in May

On a Tuesday in May, thousands of users reported issues with Instagram being down, affecting posting and interactions temporarily.[13]

Such outages can cause short-term disruptions in follower engagement but typically do not cause lasting follower count changes.