Here’s why you’re losing so many Instagram followers—UPDATED

**Updated: February 13, 2019 at 7:35PM EST**

Instagram have provided users with an update as to when we can expect this follower count glitch to be solved:

“Update: we’re expecting to have this issue resolved by 9 a.m. PST tomorrow. We understand this is frustrating, and our team is hard at work to get things back to normal.”

**Original Story: February 13, 2019 at 2:48PM EST**

Did you notice your follower count on Instagram beginning to drop overnight? Well, you’re not alone. People began expressing concern over losing everywhere from 30 followers to 500,000, but don’t panic. The app is assuring users that everything is under control.

Just like the alleged horizontal scrolling bug in late December, the app is implying that the loss is just a mistake and not a bot sweep like many are suggesting.

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Earlier today, users took to other social media platforms such as Twitter to express a significant drop in their follower counts:

Some were on the lower end of the spectrum.

While others saw a significant drop. Makeup guru James Charles and drag queen Sharon Needles lost 500,000 and 29,000 respectively.

https://twitter.com/SHARON_NEEDLES/status/1095758673605996544

Some users assumed the loss in followers was attributed to Instagram deleting accounts that are either inactive or bots.

However, Instagram later responded, assuring users they were investigating the cause.

“We’re aware of an issue that is causing a change in account follower numbers for some people right now. We’re working to resolve this as quickly as possible.”

Last month, an image that appeared to be from Instagram’s Twitter account began circulating online, urging users to share it to save their account from deletion.

“Beginning March 1, 2019, Instagram will be deleting all inactive accounts,” the alleged tweet reads. “This includes any accounts that doesn’t post, like, or comment daily. To save your account without any risks, please screenshot and repost this tweet on Instagram with the hashtag #savemyaccount2019. Thank you.”

Today, the image began circulating yet again, as many pointed to it as the culprit with more than 38,000 users having shared it at the time of publication.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt1X1GAgHAF/

However, Buzzfeed states an Instagram spokesperson assured them that the screenshot is fake.

Did you lose followers due to Instagram’s alleged bug? Sound off in the comments below!

Read more: Instagram may soon let you slide into DMs from your desktop

Earlier today, it was reported that Instagram may soon be rolling out a new feature specifically for all you desktop-using Insta lovers. Sending DMs through the web-version of Instagram may soon be a feature we will no longer have to live without.

If you’re too lazy to pull out your phone, or simply choose not to have the app downloaded for whatever reason, you’ll be happy to know you may no longer be lacking that DM feature.

According to TechCrunch, Instagram is internally testing a web version that will allow users to send DMs without using the app.

“In the current design, Direct on the web is available from a Direct arrow icon in the top right of the screen,” says TechCrunch.

“The feature looks like it will use an Instagram.com/direct/…. URL structure. If the feature becomes popular, perhaps Facebook will break it out with its own Direct destination website similar to https://www.messenger.com, which launched in 2015. Instagram began testing a standalone Direct app last year, but it’s yet to be officially launched and doesn’t seem exceedingly popular.”

Instagram confirmed they are not yet testing this publicly, but by the looks of it that may happen sooner rather than later.

While the ‘gram still doesn’t let you update your story via desktop, it is a small step in the right direction for all you non-app users.

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