Some Instagram accounts lost millions of followers overnight. Social media influencers are freaking out.
Popular social media users are in a tizzy after an unresolved issue with Instagram has left many accounts with thousands, and in some cases millions, fewer followers.
The glitch happened overnight, reports The Verge, and Instagram explained via Twitter on Wednesday morning that the company is trying to resolve the issue.
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James Charles, a popular influencer and model who claims he lost half a million followers, reportedly earned up to $9,750 in 2018 per each sponsored Instagram post, an amount that could go down if his perceived "influence" is diminished. Pop stars Selena Gomez and Ariana Grande lost more than 2 and 3 million followers, respectively, reports Fast Company.
Instagram announced plans to remove inauthentic bot accounts in November, per The Verge, but it's unclear if this was the reason for last night's purge.
