Identifying Bot Accounts on Instagram — Bot Account Checklist!

“Stop being a BOT” — the cheeky phrase we toss around with our friends on occasions they show a spammy behavior. Used much like a cuss word in the social media realm, being a bot is the last thing we want to play.

But seriously, how do you spot these bot accounts? Before we get into the checklist, what is a bot account?

A bot account is a fake account crafted to fulfill a purpose. It’s created in bulks by agencies and organizations and sometimes created at an individual level as well.

🤖 Bot Account Checklist

Let’s get into unmasking the digital imposters!

1. DP Dilemma: No face or a phony face — that’s the bot account trademark. Bot accounts usually do not use their image. They instead have stock images or any random image snatched from the internet. More often than not, they’re the faceless wonders.
2. Name and Username Games: Real people have real names, but bots? They roll with names that sound like the latest computer virus. Forget the conventional first name-last name combo; bots go for usernames that seem like they’re plucked from an algorithmic hat.
3. Bio Bizarreness: Bots are the kings of vague bios. Watch out for weird patterns, an overdose of hashtags, or a bio that reads like a nonsensical riddle. If it doesn’t add up, it’s probably a bot
4. Followers-Following Freakshow: Authentic accounts boast a balanced follower-following ratio. If it’s lopsided — followers: 10 | following: 500 — you’ve hit the bot jackpot. Red flags flying everywhere!
5. Post Paradox: While a real follower can have 0 posts, but having a fake username and a bad follower to following ratio, with 0 posts — you can be certain that it’s a bot account. Or they might have posts but keep things under wraps with a private account or showcase a mishmash of bizarre agendas and random images.
6. Spammy Shenanigans: Bots feel right at home sliding into your DMs or camping out in your comment section. Bot accounts created to push agendas, they show spammy behaviour whether it’s selling something, or trolling.

Remember, in the grand social media ball, be anything but a BOT! 🤡