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Instagram users across the globe woke up on Friday to a shocking drop in their follower list. Those hit the hardest were celebrities who boasted millions of followers on the social networking app. Netizens are calling it the “Great Purge of 2026.” However, what it really is and how it has left so many celebrities losing out on a million followers has left social media users scratching their heads.

The massive follower cleanup has triggered a discussion about fake followers and the practice of manufacturing engagements. As per reports, the follower reduction comes after a cleanup by Instagram's parent company, Meta. It was done as an effort to curb fake accounts on the platform and remove bots.