What Happened to Social Steeze? Sued by Facebook + Best Alternatives

Social Steeze promised real Instagram growth with dedicated account managers. Instead, customers got bots, fake followers, and a company that disappeared after Facebook came knocking. The domain socialsteeze.com now redirects to a domain broker selling it for $18,095. If you're wondering what happened to your money or looking for an alternative that actually works, here's the full story.

Quick Answer: Social Steeze shut down in 2019 as part of Facebook's lawsuit against Social Media Series Limited, a New Zealand company that operated multiple fake engagement services including Social Envy, LikeSocial.co, and IGFamous.net. Facebook claimed the company made $9.4 million selling fake Instagram likes and followers. The lawsuit settled for $500,000, and all three operators were permanently banned from Facebook-owned platforms. Social Steeze is gone for good, and any site claiming to be them today is fraudulent.

What Was Social Steeze?

Before its shutdown, Social Steeze marketed itself as a premium Instagram growth service. They positioned themselves as the legitimate alternative to obvious bot services flooding the market.

The Promises Social Steeze Made

Dedicated Account Manager: Every customer supposedly got a real human managing their Instagram growth. No bots, no automation, just personalized service.

Targeted Growth: They claimed to find followers based on hashtags, competitor accounts, and location targeting. Your account manager would manually engage with users in your niche.

Real Organic Followers: The marketing emphasized genuine followers who would stick around and engage with your content long-term.

Weekly Progress Reports: Customers were supposed to receive regular updates showing follower growth and engagement metrics.

Safe and Secure: Social Steeze claimed their methods followed Instagram's Terms of Service, keeping accounts safe from bans.

The Pricing Model

Social Steeze charged between $10 and $99 per week depending on the package. Users could purchase anywhere from 50 to 2,000 likes per week. At the higher tiers, monthly costs reached $400 or more. Some customers reported paying $500 for yearly packages that became worthless overnight.

The Reality Behind Social Steeze

The marketing painted one picture. Customer experiences told a completely different story.

Trustpilot Reviews Tell the Truth

Social Steeze earned a 2.3/5 star rating on Trustpilot from 52 reviews. The breakdown reveals the reality:

• 69% gave 1 star (36 reviews)
• 21% gave 5 stars (11 reviews)
• 10% gave 2-4 stars (5 reviews)

The majority of customers had negative experiences that contradicted every marketing promise.

What Customers Actually Experienced

Fake Followers, Not Real Ones: Despite promises of organic growth, customers consistently reported their new followers were fake accounts and bots. These followers never engaged and eventually disappeared during Instagram purges.

Bot-Like "Account Managers": The human account managers were anything but human. Interactions were generic, repetitive, and obviously automated. No personalization, no strategy, just mass-produced engagement.

Billing Nightmares: Customers reported continued charges after cancellation, non-functional cancel links on the website, and refund requests that went unanswered.

Account Security Risks: Social Steeze required Instagram login credentials, including passwords. This gave them complete control over customer accounts.

The Most Disturbing Complaint

One reviewer on Reviews.io shared an alarming experience: after providing credentials, Social Steeze allegedly changed the account password and email, then demanded payment to restore access. This reviewer claimed they asked for $11,000 NZD to return a 250,000-follower verified account.

Whether this was official company behavior or rogue employees, the password-sharing requirement created serious vulnerabilities.

The Facebook Lawsuit: Why Social Steeze Really Shut Down

Social Steeze didn't quietly fade away. It was killed by legal action from Facebook itself.

The Connection to Social Media Series Limited

Social Steeze was part of a network of fake engagement services operated by Social Media Series Limited, a company based in Upper Hutt, New Zealand. This network included:

• Social Envy - The original brand that launched around 2015
• LikeSocial.co - Sold automated Instagram likes
• IGFamous.net - Offered follower and engagement packages
• Magic Social - Another brand with identical services
• Social Steeze - Positioned as a replacement after Social Envy shut down

All these services shared the same playbook: promise authentic human-powered growth, deliver bots and fake accounts, collect payment.

The Three Men Behind the Operation

Facebook's lawsuit named three individuals:

• Arend Alexander Hubert Nollen (Upper Hutt, New Zealand)
• Leon Francis Hedges (Upper Hutt, New Zealand)
• David James Pekka Pasanen (Lower Hutt, New Zealand)

According to court documents, these three ran the entire operation from New Zealand while serving customers worldwide.

The $9.4 Million Accusation

On April 25, 2019, Facebook and Instagram filed a federal lawsuit in the Northern District of California. The complaint alleged:

Massive Illegal Profits: Facebook claimed Social Media Series Limited made approximately $9.4 million selling fake engagement across their network of websites.

Bot Networks: Despite marketing human account managers, the services used "networks of bots and Instagram accounts" to deliver fake likes, followers, and views.

Terms of Service Violations: All the services violated Instagram's Terms of Service by using automation and fake accounts.

Computer Fraud: Facebook alleged violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, turning this into a federal cybersecurity case.

The Cease and Desist Warnings

Facebook didn't file suit without warning. The company sent multiple cease and desist letters starting in February 2018. One letter specifically mentioned:

"We first contacted you on February 20, 2018 demanding that you stop selling Instagram Followers and Likes through your websites SocialEnvy.co and IGFamous.net."

The defendants allegedly shut down some sites after these warnings, then continued operating under new brand names like Social Steeze. This pattern of ignoring legal warnings likely strengthened Facebook's case.

The Settlement

In October 2019, just six months after filing suit, Facebook reached a settlement:

$500,000 Payment: The defendants paid Facebook US$500,000 (approximately NZ$811,000), far less than the $9.4 million claimed.

Permanent Platform Bans: All three individual operators were banned from Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and all other Facebook-owned platforms permanently.

Complete Business Shutdown: Social Media Series Limited ceased operations. All associated websites went offline.

The reduced settlement amount likely reflected practical realities about what was actually collectible. For Facebook, the permanent bans and precedent mattered more than the money.

Timeline: The Rise and Fall of Social Steeze

Warning Signs Customers Missed

Looking back, red flags were everywhere. If you're evaluating Instagram growth services today, watch for these patterns:

Password Requirements

Legitimate growth services never need your Instagram password. They use official API integrations or OAuth authentication. Any service asking for your actual password is operating outside platform guidelines.

Promises That Sound Too Good

"Thousands of real followers for $10/week" isn't realistic. Real growth takes time and costs more because it involves actual work, not just running bots.

Lack of Transparency

Social Steeze never explained how their "account managers" worked. Legitimate services are transparent about their methods because they have nothing to hide.

Billing Complaints in Reviews

Before subscribing to any service, check Trustpilot and other review sites. If multiple reviews mention unauthorized charges or refund problems, run.

Follow/Unfollow Behavior

Many customers noticed Social Steeze following and unfollowing accounts without consent. This classic bot behavior violates Instagram's Terms and gets accounts flagged.

What Happened to Social Steeze Customers

When Social Steeze went dark, customers faced immediate problems with no solutions.

Immediate Effects

Lost Subscriptions: Customers with active plans lost their money. No refunds were issued before the shutdown.

Follower Purges: Any followers gained through the service were mostly fake accounts that Instagram eventually removed.

Account Access Concerns: Customers who'd shared passwords worried about unauthorized access to their accounts.

Dead Support Channels: All customer service disappeared with the company.

Long-Term Consequences

Damaged Engagement Rates: Accounts bloated with fake followers suffered poor engagement rates, hurting algorithmic reach.

Trust Issues: Some former customers became skeptical of all growth services, missing opportunities with legitimate options.

Wasted Money: Customers spent hundreds or thousands on followers that disappeared within months.

Social Steeze vs. HCLOUT: What's Different

The Instagram growth industry has matured since Social Steeze's shutdown. Legitimate services like HCLOUT have replaced the fake follower operations.

Why HCLOUT Succeeds Where Social Steeze Failed

Real Followers: HCLOUT connects you with genuine users interested in your content. These are actual people who choose to follow you, not bot accounts that disappear.

No Password Sharing: We never ask for your Instagram password. Your account security isn't compromised.

Sustainable Growth: Social Steeze followers vanished when Instagram purged bots. HCLOUT followers stay because they're real.

No Legal Risk: Social Steeze operators are permanently banned from social media. HCLOUT operates within platform guidelines.

Free Tier Available: Social Steeze required upfront payment with no way to verify quality. HCLOUT offers a free tier so you can test before committing.

Actual Support: Social Steeze support vanished with the company. HCLOUT provides 24/7 customer assistance.

Refill Guarantee: Followers dropped? Get a refund within 30 days. Social Steeze customers had zero recourse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Social Steeze still operating?

No. Social Steeze shut down in 2019 as part of Facebook's lawsuit against Social Media Series Limited. The operators are permanently banned from all Facebook-owned platforms. The domain socialsteeze.com is currently for sale for $18,095. Any site claiming to be Social Steeze today is fraudulent.

What was Social Steeze actually doing?

Despite marketing claims about human account managers and organic growth, Social Steeze used bots and fake accounts to deliver engagement. Facebook's lawsuit confirmed they operated "networks of bots and Instagram accounts" to sell fake likes and followers.

Was Social Steeze a scam?

Based on customer reviews and the Facebook lawsuit, Social Steeze exhibited classic scam characteristics: promises that didn't match reality, fake engagement instead of real growth, billing issues, and ultimately a shutdown that left customers without refunds.

Can I get a refund from Social Steeze?

No. Social Steeze has been defunct since 2019. The company ceased operations as part of the lawsuit settlement. There's no mechanism for refunds, and the operators are banned from the industry.

Is Social Steeze the same as Social Envy?

They were connected. Both services were operated by Social Media Series Limited, the New Zealand company Facebook sued. Social Steeze appeared to be a replacement brand after Social Envy shut down following Facebook's first cease and desist letter in 2018.

What happened to the people who ran Social Steeze?

The three operators (Arend Nollen, Leon Hedges, and David Pasanen) paid $500,000 in the settlement and were permanently banned from Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and all other Facebook-owned platforms. Their company, Social Media Series Limited, ceased operations.

Why did Social Steeze ask for my Instagram password?

Legitimate services don't need your password. Social Steeze required password access because they operated outside Instagram's approved methods, using automation and fake accounts that required direct login access. This was a major red flag.

What's the best Social Steeze alternative in 2026?

HCLOUT offers what Social Steeze customers actually wanted: real followers, genuine engagement, and sustainable growth without the legal risks. We don't use bots, don't require passwords, and offer a free tier to test before committing.

Could Social Steeze come back?

Extremely unlikely. The operators are permanently banned from Facebook platforms, the company was shut down as part of a legal settlement, and the domain is for sale. The Social Steeze brand is dead.

Lessons from Social Steeze's Collapse

Social Steeze's story offers clear lessons for anyone considering Instagram growth services:

Verify Marketing Claims

"Human account managers" and "organic growth" are meaningless if the service actually uses bots. Check reviews for descriptions of how the service actually works.

Calculate the True Cost

At $10-99/week, Social Steeze seemed affordable. But customers paid hundreds for followers that got purged. Always consider what you're actually getting for your money.

Never Share Your Password

This cannot be emphasized enough. Legitimate services use official authentication methods. Password sharing creates security risks and signals Terms of Service violations.

Check for Legal Red Flags

Facebook sued Social Steeze's operators for $9.4 million. If a service is operating in legal gray areas, you could lose access to your account or investment at any time.

Look for Refund Policies

Social Steeze customers had no recourse when the service shut down. Always choose services with clear money-back guarantees.

Moving Forward After Social Steeze

If you were a Social Steeze customer or considering similar services, the path forward is clear. The fake follower era is over. Platforms actively detect and remove fake engagement. Services that violate Terms of Service face lawsuits.

HCLOUT provides what Social Steeze promised but never delivered:

• Real followers who engage with your content
• Sustainable growth that compounds over time
• No legal risk from Terms of Service violations
• No platform risk from fake account detection
• Free tier to test quality before committing
• 24/7 support when you need help
• 30-day refill for risk-free trials

Ready to grow your Instagram with a service that actually works? Try HCLOUT's free tier and experience legitimate growth.

The Social Steeze Era Is Gone

Social Steeze represented everything wrong with the early Instagram growth industry: false promises, bot-driven fake engagement, password security risks, and ultimately legal consequences from Facebook itself.

The settlement that killed Social Steeze sent a clear message to the entire industry. Selling fake followers and engagement will result in lawsuits, shutdowns, and permanent platform bans.

Today's Instagram growth requires different methods:

• Real followers who chose to follow you
• Genuine engagement from interested users
• Platform-compliant approaches that protect your account
• Sustainable results that last

Try HCLOUT free today and leave Social Steeze behind for good.

Last updated: January 2026. Social Steeze shut down in 2019 following Facebook's lawsuit against Social Media Series Limited. The operators are permanently banned from all Facebook platforms. The domain socialsteeze.com is for sale at $18,095.