Instagram Bots in 2021 — The Best Bots And Everything Else You Need To Know
By: Eduardo Morales
Tags: Social Media Marketing, Instagram Marketing, Instagram, Social Media Strategy, Social Media Management

How Instagram Combats Bots in 2021

In 2019, Instagram began implementing measures that effectively curved the use of automation bots within its user base. In 2021, they are close to perfecting them. Although Instagram keeps its bot detection strategies private, we know from users’ experience that they reduce bot activity by implementing the following measures:

Interaction thresholds are variable and dependent on each user’s historical and current app use

An account’s interaction threshold is the number of interactions an account can do per hour/day before having their interactions blocked by Instagram. Previous to 2019, interaction thresholds we not unique to each user, and therefore, could easily be determined by most well-informed users.

Now in 2021, each account interaction threshold is unique and dependent on the person’s previous and present usage. The more recent an account has been opened and the less ‘organically’ they interact with users (such as liking posts from several users in a mechanical pattern, in a short period of time), the smaller their threshold is and the fewer interactions they can do.

Also, since an account’s threshold continually changes as their use changes, it’s easier than ever for people to inadvertently interact past their threshold and be negatively impacted.

Graphic created by the author

Going over interaction thresholds result in an account’s interactions being blocked and/or a required password change

If an interaction threshold is crossed, users either receive a notification letting them know that their action has been blocked or their interactions are simply not counted. This is experienced when an account likes a post and then it’s automatically unliked by Instagram. If crossed repeatedly, a user runs the risk that Instagram will require them to change their password or, in extreme cases, having their ability to interact revoked for a few hours, days, or even weeks.

This is why having unique and continually changing thresholds is so effective to curve bot usage. It takes away the ability for a user to effectively identify what their threshold is, and therefore, automate a bot to interact under that number. This greatly increases the likelihood of going over thresholds when using a bot, and given the threat of possibly having an account blocked because of that, provides a real disincentive for casual users to try interaction automation.

Graphic created by the author

All Instagram users are punished for going past their interaction thresholds, regardless of whether they’re using a bot

In 2021, any user, regardless of whether or not they are implementing automation software, can have their interactions blocked if they consistently go over their interaction thresholds or interact in an inorganic way.

By doing this, Instagram also reduces the number of casual users who will interact at high-numbers, which then effectively reduces the number of spammy interactions, as well as the number of people who are willing to take the risk of using a bot.

Bot provider’s access to payment and email platforms is denied

Through speaking to several people who run automation companies, I’ve also learned that payment and email providers like PayPal, Square, and Mailchimp deny services to companies who offer Instagram automation services. How these companies know they are automation software providers isn’t clear — what is clear is that most companies that offer bot tools end up being denied access to payment and email platforms.