The world of social media is one where numbers are king. The more followers, likes, and shares you have, the more successful and influential you are considered to be. To some, the new social media app TikTok might feel like an uncharted territory, but people are catching on at a supersonic speed. With over 1 billion active users worldwide, people are looking for ways to stand out in a crowded space, and buying TikTok followers is one way to do just that. So, what really happens when you take the plunge?
What is TikTok?
TikTok is the newest social media app to hit the market, and it has taken the world by storm. It’s a short-form video app that allows users to share 15-second or 60-second videos of themselves lip-synching, dancing or performing various other creative tasks. The app currently has 689 million active users, and as of last year, it was the seventh most downloaded app of the decade. In just four years, TikTok has gotten more downloads than its parent company’s, ByteDance, other popular app, Douyin, has in 8 years.
The Plunge – Buying TikTok Followers
Buying TikTok followers is a common practice among influencers, brands, and businesses looking to grow their social media presence quickly. There are countless services offering a range of packages to purchase TikTok followers. A quick Google search reveals pages upon pages of websites advertising deals such as “500 Followers for $10” or “10,000 Followers for $100.” So, what really happens when you take the plunge?
Your Follower Count Will Go Up
When you purchase TikTok followers, your follower count will go up. Most of these services offer an instant delivery of followers, meaning that you’ll see results within the first day or two. You can expect to receive a mix of bot accounts and inactive accounts that are created for the sole purpose of increasing your follower count. Some services even offer a guarantee that their followers won’t drop after a certain period.
Your Engagement Will Remain Low
Buying TikTok followers might give you a high follower count, but it won’t guarantee that your videos will get more views, likes, or comments. In fact, purchasing followers will likely decrease your engagement rate. When you have more followers than viewers, TikTok’s algorithms will notice a lack of engagement and will show your videos to fewer people, which results in even lower engagement. The platform thrives on user engagement, and without it, your content will be buried deep within the app. You won’t build a real audience or community, and you’ll likely find it difficult to get any organic reach.
You Might Get Your Account Banned
TikTok is very particular when it comes to its terms of service, and it has strict rules around purchasing followers or engagement. Buying TikTok followers goes against TikTok’s terms of service, and it is considered a form of cheating. If TikTok catches you buying followers, your account might get banned, and any videos you’ve posted might get removed. A wrongly-reported video would be an additional issue that you could face. It’s not worth it; the long-term consequences aren’t worth risking.
It’s a Temporary Fix
Buying TikTok followers is a temporary fix that won’t benefit your account in the long run. The followers you purchase won’t engage with your content, and by extension, they won’t convert to customers or fans of your brand. Moreover, you’ll likely have to keep buying followers to keep up the appearance of growth, which could end up being very costly. Instead of taking shortcuts, focus on building an audience that is genuinely interested in your content. Your number of followers might start out small, but if you produce engaging content, your audience will grow organically.
Conclusion
Buying TikTok followers might seem like a quick fix, but it won’t benefit your account in the long run. The followers you purchase won’t actually engage with your content, making it difficult to gain real engagement and reach on the platform. Instead, work towards building a real, organic audience by creating quality content that people are genuinely interested in. By doing so, you’ll engage with the people who matter and create a following that truly cares about what you post. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. So, work hard, and avoid the short-lived benefits of buying fake followers.