Should you really build an Instagram audience?

Internet presence is a necessity these days, if you want to evolve in your professional and personal life. Millions of people aspire to live a life of fame, luxury and little work by becoming influencers, trusting coaches and handlers galore that promise Instagram fortune to anyone, regardless of age, body type, beauty, speech issues, lack of intelligence, culture or talent, or offering no content with any redeeming social value. Although some people that do not fit the mold young-beautiful-woman who is willing to appear almost naked actually make it, one may say there is the inclusive narrative behind this. The powers that be (Mr. algo, Silicon Valley, celebs, coaches, PR people, the press) like to portray Instagram as a place anyone can become an instant success, so they make famous 90-year old ladies, dysfunctional folks, ugly people, unfunny comedians, untalented singers and actors, to give the semblance of a level playing field. 

Do not be fooled. The people that make it are either famous someplace else, or they know famous people who can give them a boost, have the money to build up audiences inorganically, are on the news, or get picked to make the industry look more "inclusive" and draw more suckers to spend money on their careers. You know, huge amounts of money are being made selling courses, books, podcasts, seminars teaching how to become an instant celeb. Unless you are a beautiful young girl, with a great body, who is willing to disrobe almost entirely before a camera, the odds are pretty stacked against you, unless you fit one of the exceptions above. Despite how talented you are and how much good content you have to share with the world. 

Having said that, Instagram does not really provide a safe environment to build a career, unless, of course, you are already famous and lawyered up. 

I tried my best to promote my car racing books on Instagram but could not quite make it.  Despite the fact I had over ten books published, instagram would not certify me and did not recognize my status, leaving me prey to all types of situations. You see, if you are certified they say it is easier to recover your Instagram if it gets hacked. 

I had the unpleasant experience of having my Instagram hacked twice, both times by some nice folks in Nigeria. As a regular nobody - but one who had over 19000 followers, no less - I had no way of directly contacting Instagram about my problem. The instructions given for recovering Insta accounts are conflicting, unclear, and it took me over 3 months of heavy sleuthing to get it back. No help from Meta. At all.

Mind you, if you bother to write on Facebook that your Instagram account was hacked, you immediately get tons of people offering "help". Needless to say, they are probably all hackers or sleazeballs of one sort or another who seek preys around and want to take your money. 

The second time I actually saw the hacker trying to get a hold of the account, stopped him cold attempting to scam somebody with a story about importing a Ferrari from Tokyo to California, and got the Instagram back a couple of weeks later. 

Then, come September of 2024 I get this

 Yes, the account it took me four years and countless hours trying to build an audience was simply shut off. Out of the blue. No actual explanation. Clicking on the read more about this rule link, this is what I got

I did none of these things, and insofar as I know, I stopped the last hacker dead on his tracks, for I had access to all of his communications (very few).  A letter to Meta was totally ignored by them, not acknowledged in any shape or form. 

All I did on that account was publish photos and videos of racing cars, trusting people might want to buy one of my car racing books in amazon. No deception, no romantic relationship, no money laundering.  

Then I found out that quite a few people go through the same ordeal. 

The thing is this, I do not believe Instagram offers a secure enough platform for professional promotion. Your investment in time and many other things is not at all protected. It is simply not worth it. 

So, unless you can be "certified" right away, have tons of money, know people in the press, are already famous or lawyered up, forget about growing an Instagram presence organically. You may turn out alright if you are a beautiful young girl, willing to show your hot bod worldwide, T&A always get noticed by Mr. Algo.