Follow/Unfollow Strategy

The follow/unfollow strategy is a social media growth tactic where users follow large numbers of accounts to gain attention, with the hope that some will follow back. After a period of time—whether or not those accounts reciprocate—they are unfollowed to maintain a favorable follower-to-following ratio or appear more influential.

While this method can lead to short-term growth, it’s often viewed as inauthentic and spammy. Many platforms discourage or penalize it, and savvy users may notice and react negatively. Long-term, building a genuine, engaged community through quality content and real interactions tends to be far more effective and sustainable than quick-fix strategies like follow/unfollow.