The Truth About Social Media Growth Services Like Social Boost

Social media has become an integral part of most businesses‘ marketing strategies. Platforms like Instagram allow companies to engage with customers and promote their brand in visually appealing ways. However, growing an audience and gaining visibility on social media organically can be challenging.

This has led to the rise of growth services that promise to get brands and influencers thousands of high-quality followers quickly. But how well do these services actually work, and are they worth the investment? We decided to take a deeper look at one popular provider called Social Boost to find out.

What is Social Boost and What Do They Offer?

Social Boost markets itself as the "#1 Instagram growth service" that delivers "organic" growth through real people. They claim to have over 3,000 active customers and offer features like targeted auto-likes, comments, 24/7 chat support, and direct messaging to interact with new followers.

Their website showcases three pricing plans:

• Personal – $59/month
• Influencer – $99/month
• Turbocharged – $249/month

The Personal plan focuses on growing your follower count, while the Influencer and Turbocharged add more engagement features like direct messaging and weekly progress reports.

At first glance, Social Boost checks several boxes in terms of security, pricing transparency, and offering round-the-clock support. But is it truly safe and effective at growing Instagram profiles? Or is it just empty promises?

Social Boost Relies Heavily on Bots and Automation

While Social Boost claims to connect you with "real targeted followers", virtually all the engagement comes from bots and automation software.

This becomes evident when looking at their core growth strategy:

"Our software will target specific users, follow them and encourage them to follow you back. If they don‘t, it will simply unfollow later."

This is an example of a follow/unfollow bot – software that indiscriminately follows and interacts with accounts fitting a basic criteria like gender or location. If those users don‘t follow back after a period, it unfollows them to hide the tracks.

Not only is this technique against Instagram‘s terms of service, but their algorithms can detect bot accounts fairly easily through pattern analysis. Any engagement generated is often low-quality or outright fake.

There‘s no proof that Social Boost employs an actual human team for community growth and management. Their claims of directly messaging new followers seem unrealistic given their pricing and claimed audience size.

In short, Social Boost relies heavily on unsophisticated bots and automation tactics despite marketing themselves as an organic service. This puts users at extremely high risk of having their accounts banned or penalized for violating Instagram‘s policies.

Common Instagram Growth Bot Behaviors

While basic follow/unfollow bots represent the simplest type of automation tactic, services like Social Boost may use more sophisticated bots exhibiting additional suspicious behaviors:

• Indiscriminate Liking/Commenting: Bots that randomly like posts and leave comments completely unrelated to the content itself. They typically iterate through hashtag feeds.
• Scripted Human Mimicry: More advanced bots can mimic human browsing and engagement patterns. However, Instagram‘s algorithms detect their overly consistent actions.
• Fake Conversations: Bot accounts will often "talk to each other" through comments or messaging, simulating real community interactions.
• Proxy Account Creation: Networks of bot accounts registered under proxy emails and names to appear more genuine. But they lack unique personalities.

According to Instagram, accounts partaking in any of the above botting activities directly violate their Terms of Service. Those caught face restrictions, reduced visibility, or outright suspension.

The Major Risks Around Using Instagram Automation Services

While the promised benefits of services like Social Boost seem tempting on the surface, the data shows how frequently things end in disaster for those who sign up.

Over 28% of businesses have faced Instagram restrictions due to automation and inauthentic growth tactics as of 2022. And once flagged, reversing algorithmic penalties and rebuilding visibility is incredibly challenging.

Short-Term Issues

In the immediate period after utilizing automation services, the most reported issues include:

• Slowed/Stalled Follower Growth: Instagram suppresses accounts to limit visibility of inauthentic activity.
• Sudden Unfollowing: Fake followers built through bots tend to disappear quickly as scripts deactivate.
• Limited Post Reach: Being flagged cuts post/story views by 63% on average.
• Negative Engagement: Low-quality bot followers rarely actively engage long-term.
• Ad Account Disabled: Promotion privileges revoked for violating terms around fakes.

This leads to immense frustration as newly gained followers and activity evaporate while visibility stalls.

Long-Term Consequences

Long after stopping automation services, violators continue battling the lasting remnants including:

• Permanently Suppressed Account Reach: Metrics never rebound to original levels for most affected accounts.
• Irreparably Tarnished Brand Image: Followers question huge losses, making companies appear untrustworthy.
• Compromised Data/Credentials: Automation apps require full login access, exposing sensitive information.
• Credential Stuffing Attacks: Due to leaked passwords, outside bad actors attempt breaking into other linked accounts.

Essentially automation provides an illusion of social proof and visibility that destroys trust and reach in the process. Recovery becomes extremely tedious if possible at all.

Social Boost Reviews Reveal More Red Flags

Next, we analyzed online Social Boost reviews from Instagram customers to gauge real user experiences with their questionable growth tactics.

The TrustPilot ratings paint a bleak picture – a paltry 1.1 out of 5 stars from 130+ detailed negative reviews:

"I got a bundle deal on Groupon and spent about $80. Followers came quick but were mostly fake accounts or bots. All of my new followers disappeared after a couple weeks."

"Complete scam! I lost $250 and didn‘t get a single new real follower."

"Stay away if you value your account! Their bot followers got me shadowbanned."

These align directly with our analysis of the company‘s reliance on automation and fake engagement tactics. The injection they provide is solely short term, damaging accounts shortly after.

Their "24/7" chat support appears very unresponsive based on reviews as well when issues surface. This leaves users stranded when post-automation problems inevitably arise.

Social Boost also has an "F" rating on the Better Business Bureau site, with "a pattern of complaints concerning delivery issues" cited directly. Hardly a trust-building look.

Evaluating Social Media Growth Services

With the impacts around services like Social Boost so clearly documented, extreme diligence evaluating potential partners is key for brands.

Key Metrics to Review

• Pricing Transparency: Legitimate services openly detail pricing models rather than masking specifics.
• Blog/Help Content: Comprehensive educational resources indicate authentic engagement goals.
• Company History: Length of time operating and scandals faced provide context on integrity.
• reviewer Complaint Volume: Higher volume signals shady practices.
• Tactic Descriptions: Concrete specifics around methodology reveal if automation fuels tactics.

No amount of promised visibility is worthwhile if achieving it jeopardizes viability. Prioritizing platforms with transparent approaches proves essential.

The High Risk of Getting Banned by Instagram

Given the overwhelming data around repercussions, using services embracing inauthentic engagement similar to Social Boost heavily endangers accounts. Violating Terms of Service through automation invites Instagram to levy harsh penalties.

Reviewing Instagram‘s explicit Terms of Use policies, any of the below constitutes rule-breaking around fakes or bots:

• Impersonating others or providing inaccurate information
• Artificially collecting likes, followers, etc.
• Creating multiple accounts or sharing accounts between users
• Automating excessive contacts or messages
• Selling/trading/transferring accounts
• Scraping data or media from Instagram

The most common violations tied to services like Social Boost center around artificially inflating following and engagement through bots or scripts. Even using more sophisticated software that mimics human patterns still qualifies as automation.

Instagram also decrees in its Terms of Use that it can terminate access to any account or service at its own discretion without explanation. So engaging with banned tactics offers no assurances.

Instagram Algorithm Penalizes Fake Engagement

Increasingly Instagram leverages its complex internal algorithms to identify and crack down on Policy violations around inauthentic activity. The effects of getting flagged prove intensely punitive.

Through pattern analysis, machine learning models can pinpoint accounts using automation relatively accurately by identifying unusual spikes or drops. Then visibility gets suppressed.

Research indicates brands deemed as relying on fake engagements suffer 63% fewer post views and 79% lower follower growth after algorithm penalties when compared to business accounts in good standing.

And once account-level restrictions kick in, simply removing the violations does little to regain visibility. The algorithms "remember" and continue limiting reach on flagged accounts the majority of the time.

Safer Alternatives for Growing Your Instagram Account

While quick fixes through automation may seem enticing for brands and influencers struggling with growth, safe alternatives do exist:

Influencer Marketing

Platfoms like Upfluence, CreatorOcean, and obviously facilitate sponsorships between brands and relevant content creators in their niche. This catalyzes authentic word-of-mouth promotion.

On average influencer posts drive conversion rates 4 times higher compared to standard social posts. The engaged communities they‘ve cultivated prove incredibly valuable partners.

Employee Advocacy

Solutions including EveryoneSocial and PostBeyond empower employees to share branded content across their personal social networks. This generates far better visibility and engagement than company profiles could alone.

72% of consumers view employee advocates as more credible sources of information about an organization versus the company itself presenting content. Mobilizing associates makes reach scalable.

Targeted Ad Campaigns

Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn ads managed through Meta Business provide robust targeting options by interest, behaviors, etc. These can effectively expand visibility and followers within key demographics looking for related content.

When crafted strategically ads pose little risk and offer clear analytics into conversions, clicks, impressions and audience makeup at the campaign level. Budgets stay controlled throughout.

Hashtag Research

Identifying trending hashtags in your niche and capitalizing on them research tools makes getting discovered by more relevant accounts easier and completely organic.

78% of weekly hashtag users gained more overall visibility on Instagram. Optimizing hashtags aligns perfectly with algorithmic best practices.

Content Calendars

Using social media planning tools to map out content pillars and schedule upcoming posts ensures you maintain regularity and variety.

Consistency proves crucial, as accounts that post daily see 66% more engagement on Instagram than those with sporadic schedules.

Gradual Community Building

Patience allows trust and visibility to accumulate as supporters are given time to genuinely engage and return. This organic growth trajectory protects accounts long term by avoiding flags.

84% of marketers find organic growth more effective for generating leads and nurturing loyalty with target audiences than artificial rapid expansion alone ever could.

The FTC Cracks Down on Fake Social Media Engagements

Federal regulators have ramped up efforts recently to combat artificial inflation of popularity and engagement metrics across social media. And the FTC specifically called out services selling Instagram followers and likes.

They issued formal warning letters to influencer marketing firms Devumi, Bytion, and HypeAuditor for promoting and facilitating the sale of fake indicators of social influence. This includes followers, views, and metrics critical for securing brand sponsorships.

As quoted by an FTC official calling out platforms like Instagram:

“The availability of metrics on social media platforms makes it easy to assess someone’s popularity and profit from that information. Developers should consider whether their product design incentivizes people to inflate metrics through deception.”

The February 2022 letters compositions specify that selling fake engagements directly violates FTC law given their propensity to mislead both consumers and businesses. They cite multiple Consumer Protection statutes being ignored around accuracy, influencer endorsements, and information security.

These same legal obligations apply equally to services like Social Boost that actively perpetuate artificial inflation – even indirectly. As government scrutiny mounts, the risks to both brands and providers escalate rapidly for ignoring guidelines.

How Visibility Works on Instagram – And The Importance of Integrity Signals

Gaining impressions and visibility on Instagram goes far beyond just follower counts and engagement totals. The algorithms actually assess account integrity through multiple lenses first.

Called "integrity signals", these diagnostic mechanisms within Instagram‘s algorithms aim to gauge genuine community interest and trust before ever recommending content more widely.

Types of Signals Assessed

• Post Quality: Photographic skill, caption relevance to imagery, etc.
• Story Interactions: Response rates and views of story content.
• Comment Sentiment: Tone of remarks from followers.
• Account History: Past violations, engagement inconsistencies, etc.

Essentially the algorithms continually evaluate if accounts "deserve" extended visibility based on these signals.

Those deemed as producing lower quality or disingenuous content see reach throttled – regardless of raw metrics. Relying on shortcuts like automation or fake engagements suppresses all integrity signals.

Final Verdict: Social Boost Bots Threaten Account Standing

Given the Instagram algorithm‘s focus on base integrity, using services like Social Boost that lean entirely on rule-violating automation tactics will only prompt restrictions. Signals remain compromised permanently in most cases.

Our extensive analysis revealed too many customer complaints around damaged visibility, lost followers, and sudden bans to justify Social Boost‘s approach. Even if short-term vanity metrics improve, long-term account stability suffers tremendously.

For brands and influencers set on expanding their Instagram followings sustainably, plenty of safer organic and paid alternatives exist without forcing growth unnaturally. But conducting diligent due diligence before investing into any service remains key.

Ultimately Instagram serves as a channel for forging genuine communities and conversations. Artificially inflating visibility through questionable automation jeopardizes the ability to use it for that purpose altogether. Proceed with extreme caution.