Instagram’s ‘Great Purge of 2026’ wipes millions of bot followers – Kylie Jenner loses over 14m

NEW YORK — Instagram has deleted millions of bot accounts in a sweeping overnight purge, wiping out huge follower counts for major celebrities and smaller creators alike. The platform’s aggressive move, described by users as “the Great Purge of 2026,” appears to be part of a broader effort to remove spam, inactive accounts, and “non‑organic” followers using a new AI‑driven moderation tool designed to detect “coordinated inauthentic behavior.”

Among the hardest hit, Kylie Jenner reportedly lost more than 14 million followers, while BLACKPINK’s official account shed about 10 million. Cristiano Ronaldo and Selena Gomez also suffered losses of roughly 8 million and 6 million followers, respectively. Meta has yet to release a formal statement, though engagement on Threads has surged as users vent. Some creators report that legitimate accounts may have been caught in the crossfire, adding to the confusion and frustration.