Beyond the Numbers: The Realities and Strategies Behind Buying TikTok Followers
By Mary Luis
Beyond the Numbers: The Realities and Strategies Behind Buying TikTok Followers
As TikTok’s algorithm relies heavily on engagement—likes, comments, shares, and watch time—fake followers do little to help creators gain organic reach. In some cases, they may even harm it. If an account has tens of thousands of followers but receives only a handful of interactions per video, the discrepancy becomes obvious not only to TikTok’s algorithm but also to potential viewers and brands. This imbalance creates what many marketers call “vanity metrics.” They look impressive at first glance but do not contribute to actual growth, sales, or long-term influence. In fact, sophisticated advertisers now pay more attention to engagement rates than to total follower counts, which means the advantage of buying followers is far less than it used to be.