A major cleanup operation by Meta Platforms on Instagram has led to the removal of fake, inactive, and bot-driven accounts, causing noticeable drops in follower counts for several famous sports personalities.
Football star Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly lost around seven million followers during the cleanup, while Lionel Messi saw a decrease of nearly five million followers. Other athletes and public figures were also affected as the platform worked to remove accounts considered inactive or artificial.
According to reports, the move is part of Instagram’s broader effort to improve authenticity and reduce fake engagement across the platform. Social media companies have increasingly focused on identifying automated accounts and removing profiles that do not represent real users.
Despite the decline in numbers, Cristiano Ronaldo still remains the most-followed athlete in the world on social media. Analysts say the cleanup is unlikely to affect the popularity of major celebrities, as their real fan engagement remains strong.
Experts believe the action reflects a growing shift in the digital world where platforms are placing more importance on genuine interaction rather than inflated follower counts.
Brands and advertisers are also becoming more interested in real engagement, audience quality, and active followers instead of large but inactive numbers.
The cleanup has sparked discussions online about how social media influence is measured and how fake followers can impact public perception. Many users supported the move, saying it could make online platforms more transparent and trustworthy.
