The phenomenon where an Instagram account ceases to follow other accounts without direct user action is a recurring issue experienced by many users. This can manifest as a gradual decrease in the number of accounts followed, or a sudden, wholesale unfollowing event. Reports from users suggest this can happen irrespective of their account activity or adherence to platform guidelines.
This automatic unfollowing behavior is significant because it disrupts the user’s intended social network and content feed. Users invest time and effort in curating their following list to align with their interests and maintain connections. The unexplained loss of these connections can be frustrating and detrimental to their engagement on the platform. Historically, such occurrences have been attributed to various factors, ranging from suspected platform bugs to automated third-party app activity.