Instagram has identified accounts that use third-party apps to artificially grow their audience, and will use machine learning tools to remove inauthentic likes, follows and comments from those accounts.

"This type of behavior is bad for the community, and third-party apps that generate inauthentic likes, follows and comments violate our Community Guidelines and Terms of Use," Instagram said.

Accounts identified using these services will receive an in-app message alerting them that Instagram has removed the inauthentic likes, follows and comments given by their account to others. Instagram will also ask them to secure their account by changing their password.

There are also people who may have unknowingly shared their login credentials with a third-party app. "If you receive an in-app message, change your password to revoke their access to your account," Instagram added.

Since the early days of Instagram, the company has auto-detected and removed fake accounts. In the coming weeks, Instagram will have more updates on additional measures.