Losing followers on Twitter? Here’s why and what to do

If you’ve noticed your X follower count suddenly dropping, you’re not alone.

Don’t panic! Losing followers can feel discouraging, but it happens to all of us at some point. There are usually some straightforward reasons and strategies to turn followers around.

One of the most common reasons is the bots on Twitter. Even though Elon Musk’s X Premium was about lowering the number of bot accounts, this contribution had a very small impact.

Why you might be losing followers on X (Twitter)?

1. Bot accounts getting removed

Behind the scenes, the X (Twitter) algorithm fluctuates in attempts to control spam and bot accounts which impact the followers count. That’s why, one of the most common reasons for losing followers is Twitter periodically cleaning out bot accounts that have shown suspicious behavior on the platform.

Bot accounts have been a problem across social platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, not just Twitter. But lately, a surge in Twitter bot spam has been seen, even after a new X Premium subscription that enables people to buy into the validation of their account with a blue verified checkmark.

Most people use bot accounts for bulk replies, retweets, likes, and even followers. That’s why X wants to ensure that metrics like follower counts, likes, and tweets only reflect real people actively engaging, so consistent pruning of bot accounts can show up as dips in your community.

There are reportedly millions of followers dropping in celebrity accounts as noted by our NoobSpace team.

2. Controversial posts turned people off

We’ve all sent out a tweet and realized it didn’t come across as intended. If you’ve posted something offensive or controversial, it’s possible to take an immediate followers hit. Give it some time, apologize if needed, and get back to your normal content. But if you believe in what you’ve posted, you shouldn’t regret losing a single follower.

Recently I’ve been posting about the Gaza issue and atrocities against children and women of Palestine, which resulted in many people from the tech and SEO community unfollowing me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Fun fact, I don’t regret losing any followers, and you shouldn’t either.

What you can do moving forward

1. Pick one niche for posting on X

I’ve seen people making this mistake. They start posting about multiple topics and hence lose the interest of followers. People are looking for niche-specific accounts that add value to that particular industry.

Unless you’re a celebrity or use X for sh*tposting, this strategy won’t work well.

So, get niche-specific. Talk about only one topic and grow your account on it. Build authority and engage with relevant people online.

2. Analyze followers and engagement

Use Twitter analytics to better understand your followers and tweak your content strategy. Look at which tweets draw engagement and comments and post similar content for your audience. Identify inactive accounts for removal, it’ll improve your account health. Often it’s quality over quantity!

3. Keep posting your best content

Stick with posting your best Tweets on a regular basis. Consistency and value will appeal to real followers. If you want to keep your follower count intact, avoid controversy for now and focus on your strengths.

4. Actively grow your community

Follow others with interests related to your niche and like/comment on their posts. Join Twitter communities around your topics. Find relevant hashtags to put quality content in front of new audiences. Be helpful and engaging, not salesy.

5. Patience and persistence pay off

Have faith that if you stick with it, you can rebuild a vibrant, active community on Twitter. Pay more attention to engagement than straight follower count. Deliver value, connect authentically, and the followers will come.

Having a sudden drop in Twitter followers is all too common these days. But now you’re armed with some reasons why it happens along with solid strategies for getting back on track.

Stay positive, be patient with the process, and you’ll be back growing again in no time!