Meta has launched a major cleanup campaign on Instagram, using its latest AI moderation systems to remove millions of fake followers from high-profile accounts. Celebrities such as Cristiano Ronaldo, BLACKPINK, and Taylor Swift have lost millions of followers overnight. The initiative targets identity theft, fraudulent advertising, and coordinated inauthentic behavior, particularly those linked to cryptocurrency scams.
AI Moderation Targets Bot Farms
According to Meta, the purge follows recent policy updates and the deployment of a new moderation system capable of detecting fake engagement patterns. Many of the removed accounts originated from bot farms that were used to promote crypto projects and run scams, especially targeting K-Pop and football fanbases. Kylie Jenner, Ariana Grande, and Justin Bieber also saw significant follower drops overnight.
10.9 Million Scam Accounts Removed
Meta's broader 2025 efforts resulted in the removal of 10.9 million accounts linked to scam centers and 159 million fraudulent ads, with 92% taken down before any user complaints. These ads frequently promoted fake crypto investments, airdrops, and phishing schemes. The follower cleanup is a continuation of this strategy to sanitize the platform and build trust for future blockchain initiatives.
USDC Payments Rollout in Progress
Concurrently, Meta is expanding its crypto initiatives, including USDC stablecoin payouts for creators in Colombia and the Philippines. By ensuring a cleaner platform, Meta hopes to attract regulated payment partners and strengthen its overall blockchain strategy. Industry observers believe that reducing fake engagement will enhance user trust, which is critical as Meta ventures deeper into digital payments and decentralized finance.
The crackdown highlights the dual nature of social media’s relationship with crypto: while scams thrive on bot networks, legitimate crypto adoption requires transparent and authentic user bases. Meta’s balancing act between security and growth will be closely watched in the coming months.