For some people, Instagram is a place to collect memories and congregate their photos in a single place, much like an online photo album. But for others, they use the platform to show a side to them that is lavish and picturesque, some proving popularity and success in this world. They post pictures that are cropped, angled, and edited to perfection, showing the locations they visit, the outfits they wear and the people they share these moments with.

They for an aesthetic lifestyle, one that many people envy and strive for. But some of these Instagrammers don't live honestly, as their follow count grows exponentially overnight, making other users scratch their heads in curiosity as to how that could happen. Well, like in many other situations, money can buy anything.

For just a few dollars, people can buy hundreds to thousands of followers, even likes, through third-party services. And how do these sites do it? They have click hubs with thousands of phones lining the walls that profit off the self-indulgence of these online users.

Now no one says you can't buy followers – it is legal and a tool many people utilize to build a persona for themselves. But this leads to an important question: Is buying followers on Instagram ethical?

I personally don't agree with the practice; I think it is deceptive and a waste of talent. These people are trying to fool other users into thinking they are highly successful online figures… they want people to think they are more esteemed than what is the reality. When I find out that someone I follow was built on cheating the system and didn't put in the hard work to get to where they are, I unfollow them no matter how much I had enjoyed their content.

Some people seem to feel sincerely successful, which I find to be perplexing. Their entire existence on social media is based on a rocky foundation and fake popularity. Yes, they may be keeping new followers interested in their content based on what they are posting, but those users were guided into believing all of their followers actually follow them out of enjoyment instead of a price tag. The truth is, those users are only numbers and empty accounts built from the wallet of the account trying to seem more well-known than what they actually are.

I've never thought that a person's success is based on the number of people who follow them, but rather the quality of the relationships they share. I follow illustrators on Instagram, some with as many followers as me, sometimes a little more, but are incredibly successful. The followers they have are loyal, appreciative, and genuinely interested in their work, as you can see by the likes and comments on the user's posts. Their relationship is candid and honestly beautiful to witness.

As a writer, I would never want to pay for followers because then I would be wasting my talent on bots that don't care about what I have to say. I would also be spoiling my energy by focusing on my numbers instead of my craft, much like what these Instagrammers are doing. They have the potential to be great, but because they are worrying more about the numbers than the quality of their followers, they are wasting their time.

I know I can be wrong in this discussion and not everyone is going to agree with me, but I don’t believe people who buy followers are successful. Instead of worrying about the numbers, work on creating a friendship with your followers. Show them how much you appreciate them when they express their interest in your work – create genuine relationships and stop worrying about the superficial side of social media.

Be authentically yourself and appreciate the what you have instead of cutting corners.