As great and innovative Instagram is, it’s not without its issues. For every pro that Instagram has to offer, there are cons that users must live with – like the app’s vulnerability to scammers, hackers, and bots.
Now, I’m not saying that Instagram has bad security, but you should always keep an eye on your account activity to make sure that nothing is amiss. Maybe there’s a weird photo uploaded to your personal feed. Maybe your friends have been receiving strange messages from you.
Or, maybe you noticed that you’re following someone you’ve never seen before in your life.
If you’re wondering, “Why am I following random accounts on Instagram?” – I’ve got the answer for you. In this article, I’ll tell you why it happens and what you can do if you find that your Instagram keeps following random accounts.
Why Am I Following Random Accounts On Instagram?
Sometimes, you may notice random people in your following list on Instagram. You probably don’t remember pressing the follow button, much less have any idea about these profiles.
If you’re in this situation right now, don’t worry, your account is not haunted or anything. While seeing random accounts on Instagram may be considered a serious security issue, it’s actually not that difficult to solve. Here are the two most common reasons why this is happening:
- Your account has been compromised by third-party apps.
- Someone hacked into your account and is manually following people.
How To Fix Instagram Following Random Accounts
Again, regardless of the reason, fixing the issue is quite easy. Just follow these methods below and you’ll be sure to solve the problem in no time at all.
Check Your Instagram Account For Linked Apps (Video)
For most people, the reason why their accounts are following random people on Instagram is because of third-party apps, or apps that are linked to your Instagram account.
When you link a third-party app to your Instagram account, you’re essentially giving the app permission to access your account. Sometimes, this doesn’t happen out of your own volition.
You may have downloaded something or pressed on a suspicious web link, accidentally giving permission to another app or service to access your account.
Some apps, especially suspicious ones, may automatically follow random accounts on Instagram and cause other problems.
Not only is this annoying to you as a profile owner, but it can also get you flagged as a spam account by Instagram’s security system.
If you voluntarily installed and linked this app, be warned.
That said, if you don’t remember linking this app, chances are it’s a spam app or even a malware. In any case, revoking its access to your account should be easy.
Take note that you cannot do this in the official Instagram app. You can only do this fix using your mobile or desktop browser.
- Open the Instagram website on your mobile or desktop browser Log in to your account and go to your profile. Click on the gear button at the upper left corner to open the Options menu. Under Settings, click on Apps and Websites. See all of the apps linked to your account. Instagram will show you all of the apps that have been linked to your account. Remove any suspicious apps. Uninstall any app that you think might be causing the problem.
Instagram will show you all of the apps that have been linked to your account.
Uninstall any app that you think might be causing the problem.
Change Your Instagram Password To Prevent Unauthorized Access
If there are no suspicious apps or websites linked to your account, then someone else likely has access to your account. Maybe your account has fallen victim to hackers, or maybe you logged in to another person’s device and forgot to log out.
Regardless, you need to change your password to revoke their access.
Open your Instagram app and log in.
Navigate to your profile page.
Tap the hamburger button. From there, go to Settings.
You’ll see an option called “Security.” Tap it.
Under Login Security, click the first option, which is “Password.”
You have to type your current password to be able to nominate a new one.
For better security, pick a password that you haven’t used on your other accounts. Don’t choose a common password, like your favorite animal, birthdate, or name. The longer and more complex your password is, the more secure your account becomes.
Security Tip For More Protection: Two-factor Authentication (Video)
Unauthorized access to your account, whether it’s because of a bot, an app, or another person, is a serious matter. As our online and real-life worlds are becoming more enmeshed with the advancement of technology, it becomes more and more of a risk that a user could lose control over their Instagram account.
If you want to be serious about protecting your online Instagram presence, you should turn on two-factor authentication on Instagram.
Log into the Instagram app and go to your profile.
Tap the hamburger icon and click “Settings.”
A new menu will come up. Click “Security.”
From here, tap on “Two-Factor Authentication.”
You’ll see a button saying “Get Started” if you haven’t activated two-factor authentication before. Click it.
Next, choose a security method. You can toggle only one or both for extra security.
If you haven’t linked your phone number yet to your account, the app will require you to do so.
Instagram will then send a security code to your phone.
After this, simply type in the code and you’re done.
Keep in mind that Instagram will provide you with Back-Up Codes if you lose access to your phone. Save these codes for the future.
Check our video to see the steps in action:
When Instagram Keeps Following Random Accounts
In short, there are three methods you can try to solve this problem:
- Revoke access from third-party apps and websites.
- Change your password.
- Enable two-factor authentication.
With these three methods, your problem should be fixed. Never again will you think, “Why am I following random accounts on Instagram?” or “Who were those people I didn’t know?”
However, if these methods still don’t work, the situation may be more serious than a normal user can handle. Don’t hesitate to go to the Instagram Help Center and contact their representatives.
Did you like this article? Let us know if these methods worked for you in the comments below!
