The act of rapidly following and then unfollowing an Instagram user, often within a short timeframe, is a strategy employed with varying intentions. This behavior involves initially subscribing to another user’s content stream and then promptly ceasing that subscription. It can be a manual process or automated through the use of third-party applications. For instance, an individual might follow an account, wait a few seconds or minutes, and then unfollow.
The prevalence of this tactic stems from its perceived potential to manipulate the platform’s algorithms and user behavior. Historically, this practice has been used to artificially inflate follower counts and gain attention. The logic rests on the assumption that the followed account will notice the new follower and reciprocate, even if the initial follower intends to unfollow shortly thereafter. Furthermore, such actions can trigger notifications and potentially drive traffic to the instigator’s profile.