“Great Purge 2026” rumors spread as Instagram followers drop sharply amid alleged mass cleanup

Reports circulating on social media claim that Instagram experienced a massive wave of account removals over the past hours, dubbed online as the “Great Purge of 2026.”

According to these claims, millions of fake, inactive, or automated accounts were allegedly removed as part of a cleanup effort by Meta⁠, leading to sudden and significant drops in follower counts for major global celebrities.

Among those reportedly affected were Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylie Jenner, and Selena Gomez, along with other high-profile names including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and K-pop groups BTS and BLACKPINK.

While no detailed official statement has confirmed a large-scale “purge,” analysts note that social media platforms regularly remove fake or inactive accounts, which can cause noticeable fluctuations in follower counts. The situation has sparked debate online about bot activity, engagement authenticity, and the real size of celebrity audiences.