Instagram update – will the app kill off fake likes and follows and how does it affect me?

Instagram has just announced an app update that promises to crackdown on fake followers, dodgy likes, and flimsy influencers.

But how will the app tell what's fake, and how will it affect you? Here's the lowdown...

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When will the new update take effect?

App developers said they had seen accounts using third-party apps to artificially grow their audience, and from November 19 an update is cracking down on the practice.

The company said in a release: "Every day people come to Instagram to have real experiences, including genuine interactions. It is our responsibility to ensure these experiences aren’t disrupted by inauthentic activity."

The company said they would be removing inauthentic likes, follows and comments from accounts that use third-party apps to boost their popularity.

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How will the company target guilty accounts?

Instagram said they had built machine learning tools to help identify accounts that use these services and remove the inauthentic activity.

"Accounts we identify using these services will receive an in-app message alerting them that we have removed the inauthentic likes, follows and comments given by their account to others."

"We will also ask them to secure their account by changing their password. People who use these types of apps share their username and password, and their accounts are sometimes used by third-party apps for inauthentic likes, follows and comments."

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How will the update affect you?

Instagram said some people may have unknowingly shared their login credentials with a third-party app.

"If you receive an in-app message, simply change your password to revoke their access to your account.

"These new measures will be ongoing, and accounts that continue to use third-party apps to grow their audience may see their Instagram experience impacted.