He typed the words into the search bar like a confession: where can i buy followers for instagram.

The fluorescent lights of the "Social Growth Solutions" office flickered, casting a sickly green glow over Leo’s keyboard. He was twenty-four, a freelance photographer with talent but zero "clout," and he was tired of being ignored by brands because his follower count sat at a stubborn 412.

A week later, the "Great Purge" happened. Instagram’s security swept through like a digital wildfire. Leo watched in real-time as his count plummeted: 9,000… 4,000… 1,000. When it finally stopped, he was back at 380. He had lost even his original fans, who had unfollowed him after seeing his feed flooded with gibberish comments in Cyrillic script.