Hey there! If you‘re an Instagram user wanting to grow your account, you‘ve probably wondered about follow/unfollow or mass liking methods. You may have heard mixed things about whether these tactics still work in 2024 given Instagram‘s limits.
Well, you‘ve come to the right place! I‘ve done extensive research into Instagram‘s secret limits on follows, unfollows and likes. I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know about how these limits work, what the exact numbers are, and most importantly, whether you can still grow your account successfully using follow/unfollow or mass liking techniques.
Let‘s dive in!
Contents
Why Does Instagram Have Follow/Unfollow and Like Limits?
First, let‘s understand why Instagram imposes any limits in the first place.
As background, Instagram has exploded in popularity over the years. Here are some key stats:
- Over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide [1]
- 500 million+ users use Instagram Stories every day [2]
- Over 100 million photos and videos are shared on Instagram each day [3]
With so much activity and engagement happening, Instagram needs to protect the user experience. They want to maintain meaningful engagement that aligns with how real people interact on the platform.
If likes, follows and unfollows were completely unlimited, it would open the door to rampant growth hacking, spammy bots, and inauthentic engagement.
For example, a brand could automatically follow/unfollow tens of thousands of accounts per day or like hundreds of posts per minute. This would undermine the integrity of Instagram engagement.
So Instagram implements reasonable daily and hourly limits on certain actions. This helps prevent dishonest auto-engagement tactics while allowing normal users room to actively engage with the community.
But how exactly does Instagram determine each account‘s specific limits? Let‘s explore that next.
How Does Instagram Determine Your Account‘s Limits?
Instagram does not publish official numbers for the limits imposed on each engagement action. They keep the exact limit formulas hidden as proprietary information.
However, extensive testing by social media marketing experts has revealed the likely factors that influence each account‘s limits:
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Account age – Older, established accounts tend to get higher limits. New accounts have more restrictions.
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Follower count – Accounts with more followers are permitted to take more actions. Smaller accounts have lower limits.
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Engagement levels – Accounts with high engagement rates and interaction can exceed limits more than inactive accounts.
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Past behavior – Accounts with suspicious history of violations see more restrictions.
Here is a summary:
| Account Factor | Impact on Limits |
|---|---|
| Age of Account | Older accounts get higher limits |
| Number of Followers | More followers, higher limits |
| Engagement Rates | Higher engagement, higher limits |
| Suspicious Behavior | Past violations mean lower limits |
So newer accounts with minimal followers and engagement will face the tightest restrictions on daily actions. While popular accounts that play by the rules get more leeway.
But what are those limit numbers?
What Are Instagram‘s Current Follow, Unfollow and Like Limits?
While Instagram keeps the precise limit formulas hidden, extensive testing by social media marketers has revealed approximate daily and hourly limits based on different account factors:
Follow and Unfollow Limits
| Account Age | Daily Follow/Unfollow Limit |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 month | ~50 follows or unfollows |
| 1-6 months | ~100 follows or unfollows |
| Over 6 months | ~150 follows or unfollows |
*Note: Following and unfollowing share the same daily limit. For example, you could follow 50 accounts and unfollow 50 accounts, for 100 total actions.
To avoid sudden spikes in activity, spread follows and unfollows over time rather than doing hundreds in a short burst.
Like Limits
| Account | Hourly Like Limit | Daily Like Limit |
|---|---|---|
| New accounts | ~30 likes | ~200 likes |
| Established accounts | ~60 likes | ~300 likes |
Again, spread your likes over time – don‘t like 300 photos back-to-back. Gradual, varied activity avoids detection.
Now that you know the numbers, let‘s discuss whether tactics like follow/unfollow and mass liking still work in 2024.
Can Follow/Unfollow or Mass Liking Still Grow Your Account?
In the early days of Instagram, some growth hackers would follow/unfollow thousands of accounts per day or rapidly like hundreds of posts per hour. This was possible before tighter limits were implemented.
However, in 2024, the restrictive limits make these questionable automation tactics far less effective:
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Following and unfollowing the daily max of ~100-150 accounts results in only a handful of followers in return for hours of work.
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Liking 200-300 random photos per day wastes time with low conversion to actual engaged followers.
Plus, aggressively pursuing follows/unfollows and mass liking can risk account restrictions if detected. For example, consistently following then unfollowing the max per day may be flagged for suspicious behavior.
That being said, strategic and thoughtful engagement with your niche can still be beneficial:
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Following and engaging with a smaller number of targeted accounts in your industry helps form connections.
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Liking and commenting on content from accounts you genuinely want to connect with builds relationships.
The key is maintaining authenticity. Engage thoughtfully, not just to exploit limits. Build connections, not just chase follows. Provide value, not just self-promote.
Here are some tips:
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Post Valuable Content – Don‘t rely on tricks. Create content your audience loves. Be helpful and entertaining. Give them a reason to follow you.
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Engage Thoughtfully – Comment on posts and like content from accounts you really admire or want to connect with. Take time to build rapport.
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Analyze and Refine – Look at your growth and engagement metrics weekly. Find small ways to incrementally improve over time.
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Run Promotions – Occasional contests and giveaways reward your audience and incentivize follows. Just follow Instagram‘s rules.
Using these smart, relationship-based tactics, you can steadily build a loyal audience that loves your content.
How to Avoid Instagram‘s Restrictions
Here are some tips to ensure your account stays under Instagram‘s radar:
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Start slow – When first growing your account, stay well under the limits to establish natural usage patterns to Instagram‘s systems.
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Avoid spikes – Spread activities evenly over time. For example, don‘t suddenly like 200 photos in an hour after liking none the hour before.
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Vary targets – Don‘t follow/unfollow or like posts from the exact same group of accounts repeatedly. Mix up the accounts you engage with.
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Use delays – If automating any actions, program random delays of 10-60 minutes to simulate unpredictable human behavior.
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Stay in bounds – Always allow plenty of cushion room under the limits. Don‘t push right up against the max daily actions.
Instagram uses machine learning algorithms to detect suspicious automated activity that diverges from natural human patterns [4]. By blending in, you avoid red flags.
The best approach is to focus your energy on captivating content and thoughtful engagement. Artificial inflation tactics like aggressive follow/unfollow and mass liking offer diminishing returns for significant risk.
The Key Takeaway
At the end of the day, while you can still grow by exploiting Instagram‘s follow, unfollow and like limits, your success will be short-lived.
Lasting growth comes not from gaming limits, but from consistently creating value for your audience. Engage authentically, not automatically. Build loyalty through relationships, not gimmicks.
If you found this guide helpful, let me know in the comments! I‘m here to answer any other questions you have around growing your Instagram account the right way.
