If you’re a KOL or simply a wannabe that uses one of the many automated apps to boost your follower count, here’s a warning: Instagram is coming for you. In a very serious announcement, the social media platform informed the public that it has already begun removing fake accounts and will be sending a warning to profiles utilising third-party apps to gain followers to no longer do so and change their password.

Although Instagram had begun its quest to vanquish bot accounts back in 2014, this is the first time that the Facebook-owned digital property has publicly pledged to also remove fake likes from posts. This comes in the wake of serious concern regarding automated bots meddling with social media accounts, resulting in various issues including election tampering.

Through this new wave of cleanse, Instagram hopes to discourage users from ever providing a third- party app with their login details in hopes of getting likes and follow, as not only does this go against the platform’s security policy but also makes them vulnerable of being hacked or used for sending out spam.

In a catch 22, Instagram itself can be seen running ads for apps that let you buy followers and likes, allowing them to appear in your timeline and Stories. With this new announcement, however, the social media giant has requested that users report ads featuring these types of apps when spotted.

So if you notice your follower and like counts dropping in the upcoming few weeks, don’t worry – it’s not something you did; it’s just Instagram.