Social proof is a psychological phenomenon where people assume the actions of others in an attempt to reflect correct behavior for a given situation. On platforms like Instagram, a high like count acts as a primary signal of:

: Brands and individuals with large followings are frequently viewed as more reliable.

: Modern AI-driven moderation tools are increasingly effective at identifying and purging bot accounts, which can lead to shadowbanning or permanent account suspension.

: Users often equate high engagement with expertise or quality.