Meta removes 17,000 fake followers from Netanyahu’s Instagram account
Investigation follows sudden spike that raised questions about artificial account activity.
Tech giant Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, removed 17,000 fake followers that were discovered on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Instagram account on Thursday.
Earlier this week, Ynet reported a sudden surge of approximately 15,000 new followers on Netanyahu’s Instagram account, beginning last Friday. The spike raised suspicions that it reflected not a sudden increase in the prime minister’s popularity, but rather the addition of artificial accounts, commonly known as bots, intended to create that impression.
The unusual growth was first identified by internet researcher Gil Feldman, who runs the "Given Situation" project, a data analysis initiative that monitors online discourse and focuses on exposing manipulation on social media platforms.
According to Feldman’s posts on X, roughly 6,000 followers were added to Netanyahu’s account in a single day last Friday. Over the weekend, another 10,000 followers were added, at a pace of more than 300 per hour. Following the increase, the account reached approximately 4.6 million followers.
Following media reports about the issue, Meta appears to have launched an investigation under its standard enforcement procedures. Purchasing fake followers, likes, or comments violates the policies of all major social media platforms and typically results in the removal of fraudulent accounts.
Just last month, Meta activated new AI-based detection systems that removed millions of fake accounts within hours. As a result, celebrities including Kylie Jenner and Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly lost millions of followers.
In response to Ynet’s inquiry following the removal of the fake followers, a Meta spokesperson in Israel said: “We continue our significant efforts to maintain authentic interactions on our platforms. When we identify violations of this policy, we take action against them.”
While the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has ruled that the sale of fake followers constitutes a deceptive business practice and has imposed substantial penalties on companies involved in the practice, Israeli law does not currently address the issue directly.
At the same time, experts note that not every case of fake followers necessarily reflects deliberate action by the account owner. In some instances, bots automatically attach themselves to large, high-profile accounts without the knowledge or involvement of those managing them.
Like many global political leaders and public figures, Netanyahu does not personally manage his social media accounts and relies on professional teams to do so. Sources familiar with his online activity said the accounts are generally managed professionally and expressed surprise at the appearance of such a large number of suspicious followers.
According to digital marketing experts, such activity can ultimately harm an account rather than help it. Social media success is increasingly measured through engagement, the degree to which followers interact with posts, reels, stories, and other content.
As a result, a large follower count is not necessarily a sign of influence. An account with 5,000 highly engaged followers can be far more impactful than one with 50,000 inactive or indifferent followers. In many cases, fake followers dilute engagement rates and can undermine an account’s credibility.
