The Great Purge of 2026: How Instagram's Update Impacted Top Celebrities' Follower Counts
Internet personalities experienced a significant drop in their follower counts due to a recent Instagram update that removed inactive and bot accounts. This unexpected event affected top celebrities like Virat Kohli, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylie Jenner, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé. The 'Great Purge of 2026' trended on social media as millions of followers disappeared overnight.
According to third-party follower service Celebrity Radar, Virat Kohli lost 2 million followers, bringing his total count to 274 million. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi also saw declines of 8 million and 4 million followers, respectively. Kylie Jenner suffered the most significant loss, shedding nearly 15 million followers due to the bot purge.
K-pop group BLACKPINK and its members also experienced a drop in followers, with Lisa losing 1.1 million on her personal account. Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, and Justin Bieber each lost millions of followers as well. Followers play a crucial role in monetization for celebrities, allowing them to leverage their audience for brand partnerships and promotions.
Mega influencers can charge substantial amounts for sponsored posts, with some top stars earning millions per post. Followers also serve as a customer base for personal promotions, such as merchandise launches or world tours. Celebrities like Hailey Bieber have successfully utilized their follower base to promote their brands and products, showcasing the importance of a strong online following in today's digital landscape.