It's not about following bots, it's about participating in a mutual boosting scheme. As the article states, visibility and 'fame' on Instagram is directly rela

It's not about following bots, it's about participating in a mutual boosting scheme. As the article states, visibility and 'fame' on Instagram is directly related to Like-count and follower numbers. And for many photographers that visibility leads to work. So if they have to permit their account to be botted to give Likes to other accounts but receive similar benefit in return, they do so.