Mega and Macro Influencers Lose Followers Amid Recent Instagram Purge

As Instagram has grown from a small social media platform to one of the most used social spaces today, the amount of users, both real and fraudulent, has grown in parallel. In an effort to maintain the integrity of the platform, ensuring that spam accounts and accounts committing community violations are regularly identified and removed, Instagram has to conduct routine “purges” in order to rid these users from their ecosystem indefinitely. For example, Instagram users saw significant purges take place in 2014 and 2019, where a large number of largely followed accounts, mostly mainstream celebrities, were impacted by the millions.

Instagram isn’t the only social media platform who continuously checks the validity of users on their accounts by removing accounts that are either inactive, fake, suspected to be bots, in violation of terms of service, or engaging in inauthentic activity. Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube often follow similar practices in an attempt to keep their user bases legitimate.

In a recent report, AI influencer marketing platform HypeAuditor found that an Instagram purge was likely responsible for the 13.5% of all Instagram influencers that were impacted by a decrease in followers from September 6 to 13 of this year. Collected on an analysis of 33.7 million Instagram accounts, the data found that Macro influencers – which are defined by accounts with 100 thousand to 1 million followers – lost the greatest number of followers over the two-week period, with 31.3% of Macro influencer accounts being impacted by a decrease. Following closely behind at 30.7% were Mega influencers – accounts with over 1 million followers.

Gaining followers consistently for the month prior, ten of the top mega influencers on Instagram lost a total of 16.3 million followers from August 30 to September 13. Losing the greatest number of followers were celebrity sisters Kim and Khloe Kardashian who both lost 2.4 million followers, followed closely by actress Selena Gomez with a decrease of 2.2 million. Additional accounts with a large depletion in follower count can be found below.

While at first glance a purge of this size may appear to be a major issue to both impacted influencers and the brands that are partnering with them as a part of their influencer marketing campaigns, loss in followers of major accounts is not something either party should be too concerned with. Purges conducted by Instagram will help influencers to maintain real, genuine audiences and have little to do with actual engaged followers. This also validates brand investments in influencers as it ensures they are reaching an undisputed audience.

Providing additional insight into the data, Alexander Frolov, co-founder and CEO of HypeAuditor stated, “The massive loss of followers that stars like Cristiano Ronaldo or Kim Kardashian are currently experiencing does not mean that millions of fans are giving up their loyalty. Instead, we suspect that the origin lies with Instagram itself. Such a purge of inactive or fraudulent accounts is nothing new.”

Frolov goes on to explain, “We estimate that only about 60 percent of all Instagram accounts are real people. The rest are bots, inactive accounts, or mass followers – and it is pretty unlikely that they are genuinely interested in shared content. So, it only makes sense that Instagram should also remove mass accounts like these.”

This isn’t the first Instagram purge the platform has seen and it certainly will not be the last. What’s important to keep in mind when large account deletions like this are conducted in the future is that these accounts are being removed for the overall safety, fairness, and authenticity of the social media platform.

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by Web Desk via Digital Information World

This New Android Trojan Subscriber Received Nearly 5 Million Downloads

The Google Play store has developed a notorious reputation for being a hub for all kinds of malware. Despite the ostensible best efforts of moderators, it seems that malware laden apps still manage to find their way onto the store. Trojan subscribers are especially popular here because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up subscribing unwitting users to various services that they never asked for and which they would unknowingly be paying for.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that there is a particular kind of Trojan subscriber that has been making the rounds on the Play Store by the name of Harly. It is fairly similar to the Jocker Trojan, and that suggests that both these types of malware could potentially have the same origin or creator.

Harly Trojan containing apps have been on the Play Store since at least 2020, and there have been around 190 of them so far with all things having been considered and taken into account. These apps have received at least 4.8 million downloads, although this is a low ball estimate so the actual number could very well be a great deal higher than anyone suspects.

If you come across an app that is infected with Harly, you might not even be able to tell that it is a suspicious app to download. That’s because the scammers behind this app download legitimate apps, inject them with malicious code and then put them back up on the Play Store so that unsuspecting users can get scammed.

What makes these apps even riskier to use is that they provide all of the functionality that a user would expect, so you might not even know that you are the victim of a Trojan subscriber before it is too late.

One thing that differentiates Harly from other members of the Jocker malware family is that it’s not a multi-stage downloader. Instead, this trojan puts the entire payload within a single app, and then decrypts it using a variety of methods.

This just goes to show how important it is for users to be cognizant of the dangers of downloading low quality apps. It is best to thoroughly research apps before downloading them to make sure they are safe and don’t contain any type of malware.

H/T: Kaspersky

Read next: Annual Cyber Attacks Targeting US Businesses Rise to 42
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Annual Cyber Attacks Targeting US Businesses Rise to 42

Cybersecurity is the bedrock upon which strong and stable businesses can eventually be built, but in spite of the fact that this is the case most businesses don’t seem to be taking this at face value. A new report released by Keeper Security shows how the shifting terrain of cybersecurity is not being focused on by most businesses.

Cybersecurity needs to be constantly evolving because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up helping them stay ahead of threats. That’s something that businesses in the US are failing to contend with. Businesses that responded to this survey said that they experienced an average of 42 cyber attacks each in the past year with all things having been considered and taken into account. Additionally, 39% of respondents said that they expect an 39% increase in the number of attacks that end up being successful in the coming year.

Shockingly, 4% of organizations said that they had no opinion either way since they do not collect data associated with cyber attacks. That reveals the backwards nature of many businesses out there. The consequences of cyber attacks can be monumental, with 37% of organizations losing upwards of $100,000 after facing cyber attacks. Hence, businesses need to invest more in cybersecurity and recognize this as a lifelong battle instead of a one off.

32% of industry leaders in the IT sector stated that they don’t have any kind of management platform on which they can store confidential information. 52% said that they don’t plan to invest in password management systems either, even though a single compromised password can make their systems considerably less secure than might have been the case otherwise.

There is some growth in the level of investment that is being seen on the cybersecurity front, but it is not quite enough to stem the rising tide of cybercrime. Businesses are putting their futures at risk by prioritizing things other than cybersecurity, and that is giving malicious actors the opening they need to take control of their systems or spy on and steal their various trade secrets.

Read next: The Popularity For Business Apps In The US Is On The Rise With Installs Rising By 70%
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Cellular IoT Market Grows 20% YoY, China Reigns Supreme

A series of mishaps resulted in the cellular IoT market shrinking in the first quarter of 2022, but in spite of the fact that this is the case the second quarter has shown some grown growth rates. The continued macroeconomic obstacles that are occurring around the world did nothing to stop the global IoT market from seeing a healthy 20% growth in total shipments with all things having been considered and taken into account.

This information comes from Counterpoint’s latest report, and it shows that low-tier cellular IoT tech is growing at an extremely rapid rate, and with all of that having been said and now out of the way it is important to note that this is driving a lot of the growth that the industry is currently experiencing. Smart partnerships across the supply chain have also helped IoT manufacturers to keep prices on the lower side which is vital when trying to navigate an economy that is being ravaged by out of control inflation.

China continues to be the single biggest market for IoT products, representing around 50% of the sales that this industry has seen so far. However, India is also rapidly turning into an IoT hub, with an incredible year over year growth rate of 264%. That suggests that India might surpass China as the biggest IoT market in the world over the next decade or so. China’s status as the biggest manufacturer of IoT products continues to hold strong though, and while India might replace it as the biggest consumer of such products it will be a different matter for it to supplant China’s position as the foremost manufacturing hub for the industry.

38.9% of IoT shipments were honored by Quectel, which makes it the biggest player in the industry right now. Coming in at a distant second is Fibocom with 8.7%, and other companies have similar proportions of the wider industry in terms of shipments. That suggest that Quectel will shape much of the future growth of the industry, and it will be interesting to see what kind of impact they have and who if anyone manages to topple their dominance.

Read next: The Popularity For Business Apps In The US Is On The Rise With Installs Rising By 70%
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Users Can Now Avail A New Clone Of ‘Be Real’ Called ‘TikTok Now’ Outside The US

BeReal has really been making it big in the digital world and in case you didn’t know, TikTok has its own clone version of the trending app called ‘TikTok Now’.

The app is designed to provide followers with real updates in the form of random prompts related to what you may be up to at a certain moment in time. It’s random and spontaneous and people are loving it.

The launch of TikTok’s clone version is now up for grabs outside the US so you can download it if you’re interested.

A new description was seen across the Google Play Store that spoke highly of the launch from TikTok. The app wants users to share the most real moments of their life with those that mean the most to them.

On a daily basis, you can add images or videos at the same time as your pals. This way, you’ll know who’s active and free to see your updates. You will similarly be getting plenty of notifications as your fellow buddies. This arrives in the form of a window that’s open for three minutes and allows you to add clips of just 10 seconds. You can do this via your device’s front and back cameras.

So as you can see, it’s the exact same copy of BeReal. And it makes sense why TikTok wants to follow in the app’s footsteps because it’s trending around the world.

In addition to that, thanks to Matt Navarra, we’ve got some more insights on the new app. He says that in the US, the new feature is getting launched as an option in the regular TikTok. It’s designed to see how well people respond to different markets out there.

This is the TikTok Now app on-boarding.

Take a look: pic.twitter.com/YTsRenzkBv

— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) September 21, 2022

We feel that it would really benefit people if the app decided to do this because you’d see users logging into TikTok on a more frequent basis. Here is also where they could better monetize it through ads and really boost up their presence in the market.

The separate TikTok Now feature is a new endeavor outside the US and we’ll have to see how well that goes for users worldwide as it rolls out as we speak. There’s plenty of cross-promotional value included that can really boost the app’s presence and allow more people to connect simultaneously. In the end, the goal is to have bigger and better engagement than before.

We would also like to mention that this tactic might be a great strategy because TikTok knows that most of its users hail from the US so adding a new app in today’s market might be really beneficial.

Whatever the case might be, the news is not too great for BeReal because it’s really gaining up big time in terms of its market share. And having an archrival like TikTok come and burst its bubble by simply copying is annoying.

At the moment, the BeReal app stands at just 10 million daily active users. We’ve seen this app get downloads crossing the 43 million mark. Moreover, the app’s growth has really gone above the beyond that of Clubhouse so the hype is definitely real.

The comparison is also very interesting if we must say so ourselves. It’s not just about raw figures but the ultimate outcome and Clubhouse isn’t faring too well. So many apps have copied it now that the distinct and unique factor no longer exists and it’s not grabbing the market’s attention.

For now, it’s all eyes on TikTok’s clone version and by the looks of it, many are looking forward to it. What about you?

Read next: TikTok Forces All Political Accounts To Undergo Verification While Banning Fundraising
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

How to use social media to your advantage at online casinos

Social media can be a great tool for marketing your online casino business. If you own a casino website then you can promote it on social media to get more eyeballs. By using social media, you can reach out to potential customers and promote your casino in a way that is both personal and interactive.

Here are some tips on how you can use social media to your advantage at online casinos:

1. Use social media to create a strong relationship with your customers.

Make sure you are responsive to any questions or concerns that your customers may have. By building a strong relationship with them, you will create loyalty and trust which are essential for any successful business.

2. Use social media to promote special offers and discounts.

Make sure to let your customers know about any special offers or discounts that you may be running. This is a great way to generate interest and get people to try out your casino.

3. Use social media to share helpful information about gambling responsibly.

By sharing helpful information about gambling responsibly, you will not only help your customers but also show them that you care about their well-being. This will go a long way in building trust and loyalty.

How online casinos are using social media to reach new audiences

Social media has become one of the most powerful tools that online casinos can use to reach new audiences. By creating engaging content and using targeted advertising, online casinos can reach a wider audience than ever before.

One of the most effective ways to use social media for casino marketing is to create content that is shareable and interesting. This could include blog posts, infographics, or even video content. By sharing this content, online casinos can increase their visibility and reach a larger audience.

In addition to creating great content, online casinos should also use targeted advertising on social media. This allows them to specifically target potential customers who may be interested in their products or services. By using targeted advertising, online casinos can reach a wider audience and convert more leads into customers.

The most effective social media strategies for online casinos

There’s no doubt that social media is a powerful marketing tool – one that can be used to reach a large audience with relatively little effort. And while there are many different social media platforms out there, not all of them will be equally effective for promoting an online casino.

So, which social media platforms should you be using for your online casino? Here are a few of the most effective ones:

Facebook – With over 2 billion active users, Facebook is by far the largest social media platform in the world. And while it may not be the most obvious choice for promoting an online casino, it can actually be quite effective. The key is to create engaging content that will capture people’s attention and get them interested in what you have to offer.

Twitter – Twitter is another huge social media platform with over 330 million active users. And while it might not be as popular as Facebook, it’s still a great place to promote your online casino. The key here is to use hashtags effectively, so that your tweets can reach a wider audience.

Instagram – Instagram is a bit of a different animal than other social media platforms, but it can still be quite effective for promoting an online casino. The key is to post visually appealing content that will grab people’s attention and make them want to learn more about your business.

How can online casinos use social media more effectively?

There are a number of ways that online casinos can use social media more effectively. One way is to use social media to drive traffic to their website or blog. This can be done by posting links to interesting articles or blog posts, or by sharing photos or videos that showcase the casino’s games and facilities.

Another way online casinos can use social media more effectively is by using it to build relationships with potential and existing customers. This can be done by responding to comments and questions, and by sharing helpful information about gambling responsibly. Additionally, online casinos can use social media to run promotions and giveaways, which can help to attract new customers and keep existing ones coming back for more.

In conclusion, social media can be a great asset when used correctly. It can be used to reach new clients and customers, increase the interactivity between the online casino and its customers, and increase the range to which people can view the various promotions and deals the casino has. However, social media should be avoided if you want to keep your online gambling private.
by Web Desk via Digital Information World

Apple Comes Out On Top Of The American Customer Satisfaction Index For Electronics And Household Appliances

The American Customer Satisfaction Index for 2022 is out and Apple has taken the lead, although narrowly against other top archrivals in the computer category.

The Cupertino firm managed to beat out the likes of Acer, Samsung, Dell, Amazon, HP, and a few others to clinch the top spot. And while the margin may not be huge, a win is definitely a win and Apple will take it with open arms.

The new report was published today and it included responses from users over a one-year period, that is from July 2021 to June 2022. And it’s great to note how there is a sudden uprise in demand for desktop computers by 3%, producing a score of 80. This is followed up by laptops and then tablets coming in second place at 79.

As a whole, Apple’s two leading devices, the Mac and the iPad both had massive scores of 82, which is nearly two points higher than the average seen on desktops. It’s also around three points higher than your average PC which is 79. Apple was highlighted to score 82 last year.

Meanwhile, Samsung narrowly missed out on making a tie with the iPhone maker as it scored 81. In third place, there were quite a few names who scored 79 and they included Asus, Acer, Dell, Lenovo, and Amazon.

It was Amazon that showed the most significant improvement in terms of its YoY progress, where a remarkable 7% increase was witnessed.

As far as the benchmarks are concerned about what it is that really had users intrigued about the product, well, website satisfaction topped the list, closely followed up by call center satisfaction. And after that, the usual followed including visuals and the ability to prevent crashes of the system.

Read next: New Report Says Apple Exerts Mega Influence Over A Body The Represents Developers
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World