What Happened to Social10x? The Facebook Lawsuit + Best Alternatives

Social10x was one of dozens of fake follower services that promised instant Instagram fame. Buy a few hundred followers here, a thousand likes there, and watch your social proof skyrocket. The problem? Those followers were bots. And Facebook noticed.

Quick Answer: Social10x shut down in 2019 after Facebook and Instagram filed a federal lawsuit against the company for selling fake followers, likes, and views. Social10x was part of a network of websites operated by Social Media Series Limited, a New Zealand company that allegedly made over $9.4 million from fraudulent engagement services. The defendants were forced to pay $500,000 in settlement and were permanently banned from Facebook's platforms. If you used Social10x, your purchased followers are long gone, and you need a legitimate service like HCLOUT that delivers real followers without legal or account risks.

What Was Social10x?

Social10x was an Instagram marketplace where you could buy followers, likes, and comments. It operated from around 2015 until its shutdown in 2019. The service marketed itself as a way to quickly boost your Instagram presence, but the reality was far less glamorous.

Services Social10x Offered

Followers: The core product. You could purchase anywhere from 500 to 5,000 one-time followers. Prices started at $6 for 500 followers and went up to $29 for the largest package. They also offered "premium monthly Instagram followers" subscriptions delivering up to 1,500 followers per month.

Likes: Two options existed. One-time likes could be purchased for specific posts, ranging from 100 to 1,000 likes per post. Auto-likes were a subscription service that delivered likes automatically whenever you posted. 1,000 one-time likes cost $59.

Comments: This was Social10x's most expensive and worst feature. You could buy 10 to 25 comments per post, with 25 comments costing $59. Customer reviews universally panned this feature. The comments came from obvious bot accounts and made no sense contextually. They appeared to be generated by low-quality automation.

Multi-Platform Services: Beyond Instagram, Social10x sold engagement for Facebook, YouTube (views and subscribers), and Pinterest (likes and repins). Instagram was clearly their primary focus.

The Pricing Structure

Social10x positioned itself as affordable:

The low prices should have been a warning sign. Real engagement from real people costs money. When someone offers 1,000 followers for $9, those followers are not real humans choosing to follow you.

The Network Behind Social10x

Social10x did not operate in isolation. It was part of a larger network of fake follower websites, all connected to the same parent operation.

The New Zealand Connection

Multiple investigations revealed that Social10x was linked to a company called Social Media Series Limited, based in Upper Hutt, New Zealand. This company operated from a private residence and was run by three director shareholders:

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

The Web of Fake Follower Sites

Social10x was just one storefront in a network of related websites. According to court documents from the Facebook lawsuit, the same operation ran multiple sites:

• SocialEnvy.co - The original site, which Facebook first targeted
• IGFamous.net - Another fake follower storefront
• LikeSocial.co - Sold Instagram likes and engagement
• SocialSteeze.net - A later addition to the network
• Social10x.com - The site we are discussing
• smseries.co.nz - The company's New Zealand domain

When one site faced pressure, the operators would shift focus to another. Facebook's cease-and-desist letter explicitly called out this behavior: they had contacted the operators in February 2018 demanding they stop selling fake engagement through SocialEnvy.co and IGFamous.net, but the operators continued through new storefronts including Social10x and SocialSteeze.

Evidence of the Connection

Multiple sources of evidence linked these sites:

PayPal Transaction Records: Customers paying via PayPal noticed the seller information listed "SocialEnvy" as the company name, even when purchasing from other sites in the network.

Checkout Information: The checkout process revealed connections to "Series Next Limited," another New Zealand-registered entity tied to the same directors.

Timing: When SocialEnvy shut down, these other sites launched or expanded using similar code and website structures.

Geographic Data: The directors all resided in the same geographic region of New Zealand.

The Facebook Lawsuit: How Social10x Really Died

In April 2019, Facebook and Instagram filed a federal lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. This case would ultimately shut down Social10x and its sister sites.

The Allegations

Facebook accused the defendants of operating an "unlawful business" that artificially inflated likes, views, and followers on Instagram using networks of bots. The lawsuit cited violations of:

Computer Fraud and Abuse Act: The defendants continued distributing fake engagement even after their access was revoked and accounts were suspended.

California State Laws: Various consumer protection and unfair competition statutes.

Instagram Terms of Service: The fake follower operation directly violated the platform's Community Guidelines.

The Scale of the Operation

According to the lawsuit, the defendants had earned approximately $9,430,000 from their fake engagement services since starting operations in July 2015. Users could purchase between 50 and 2,000 fake Instagram likes for between $10 and $99 per week.

The operation had been running for years. Facebook first sent cease-and-desist letters in early 2018. The defendants shut down their original sites after receiving the letters, then immediately continued operating through new storefronts using fake names. This continuation of illegal activity after explicit warnings made the legal case stronger.

What Facebook Sought

The lawsuit requested that the court:

• Stop the defendants from engaging in and profiting from the sale of fake likes, views, and followers on Instagram
• Hold them accountable for violating Terms of Use and Community Guidelines
• Penalize violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and California laws
• Award damages reflecting the years of fraudulent operation

The Settlement

The case resulted in a settlement with significant consequences:

Financial Penalty: The defendants were required to pay $500,000 USD (approximately $800,000 NZD) to Facebook. Facebook had originally sought $9.4 million in damages.

Permanent Platform Ban: All three individuals who ran the company were permanently banned from Facebook's services. They cannot use Facebook, Instagram, or any Meta platforms.

Website Shutdown: LikeSocial.co, IGFamous.net, Social10x.com, and the other sites in the network went offline permanently.

Company Dissolution: Social Media Series Limited remains listed on the New Zealand Companies Office registry but is no longer operational.

Timeline: The Complete History of Social10x

Why Social10x Customers Got Burned

Customers who bought from Social10x faced multiple problems, even beyond the site shutdown.

The Followers Were Obviously Fake

Every customer who looked closely discovered the same thing: Social10x followers were bots. They had strange usernames, no profile pictures, no posts, and no genuine activity. These are the three hallmarks of fake accounts, and Social10x delivered all three.

Customer reviews on Trustpilot tell the story. 75% of reviews were one-star, with customers reporting:

• Followers clearly from bot accounts based in Asia
• No engagement from purchased followers
• Follower counts dropping within months as Instagram purged fake accounts
• Purchased followers had no relevance to their niche or location

Instagram Deleted the Followers

Instagram actively hunts and removes fake accounts. Within a few months of purchase, most Social10x customers watched their follower counts drop back to pre-purchase levels. The bots got caught and deleted.

When customers asked Social10x to replenish what was lost, the company claimed it was "outside of their guarantee period." Even the replacement policy was designed to avoid accountability.

Billing Problems and No Refunds

Customer reviews reported a pattern of ongoing billing issues:

• Charges continuing after subscription cancellation
• Unauthorized charges after one-time purchases
• Customer service refusing to issue refunds
• No response to billing disputes

This pattern suggests the operation prioritized extracting maximum revenue with minimal customer support.

Account Risk

Using fake follower services can trigger Instagram's spam detection. Some Social10x customers reported account restrictions or suspensions after their purchased followers were flagged and removed. The risk extended beyond wasted money to potentially losing access to accounts you had built legitimately.

The Comments Were the Worst Feature

Social10x's comment service deserves special mention for how terrible it was. At $59 for just 25 comments, it was expensive. But the quality made the price irrelevant.

Customers reported that comments:

• Came from obvious bot accounts with no profile content
• Made no sense in context ("Great shot!" on a text-based graphic)
• Used generic phrases that clearly came from a template
• Were obviously generated by low-quality automation
• Drew attention to the fake nature of the account's engagement

Ironically, buying comments from Social10x may have hurt accounts more than helped them. Anyone looking at the comments could immediately tell something was wrong.

The Best Social10x Alternative in 2026: HCLOUT

Seven years after Social10x shut down, the fake follower business model is dead. Platforms are too good at detection. Legal risks are too high. The followers don't deliver value anyway. But the underlying need that drove people to Social10x still exists: people want to grow their Instagram presence efficiently.

What Social10x Customers Actually Wanted

Strip away the bots and scams, and Social10x customers wanted:

• Larger follower counts for social proof
• More engagement on their posts
• Faster growth than organic methods alone
• A competitive edge against rivals
• Time savings compared to manual growth efforts

HCLOUT delivers all of this with real followers.

HCLOUT vs. Social10x Approach

Why HCLOUT Succeeds Where Social10x Failed

Real Followers: HCLOUT connects you with real users interested in your content niche. These are actual humans with complete profiles, genuine posting histories, and real engagement patterns.

Sustainable Growth: Social10x followers got purged within months. HCLOUT followers stay because they are real people who chose to follow you.

No Legal Risk: Social10x customers were associated with a company sued by Facebook. HCLOUT operates legitimately with no legal concerns for customers.

Actual Engagement: Fake followers from Social10x never liked posts, left meaningful comments, or shared content. HCLOUT's real followers engage authentically.

Platform Compliance: HCLOUT does not violate Instagram's Terms of Service. Your account stays safe.

Free Tier to Test: Social10x required upfront payment with dubious refund policies. HCLOUT offers a free tier so you can verify quality before spending anything.

24/7 Support: Social10x's support was notoriously unresponsive. HCLOUT provides round-the-clock live chat assistance.

30-Day Refill: Followers dropped? We refill it free. Social10x customers had no recourse when things went wrong.

What the Social10x Case Means for the Industry

The Facebook lawsuit against Social10x and its sister sites sent a clear message to the fake follower industry.

Platforms Will Sue

Facebook did not just suspend accounts or send cease-and-desist letters. They filed a federal lawsuit, sought millions in damages, and obtained permanent bans. This level of enforcement deters other operators.

Continuing After Warnings Makes It Worse

The Social10x operators received explicit warnings in February 2018. Their decision to continue operations through new storefronts strengthened Facebook's legal case. The lawsuit specifically cited their continued activity after warnings.

Multi-Site Operations Get Noticed

Operating multiple fake follower sites did not provide protection. It provided evidence of a coordinated scheme. The lawsuit named all the connected sites and tied them to the same defendants.

Settlements Have Real Consequences

Beyond the $500,000 payment, the permanent platform ban affected the defendants personally. They cannot use Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, or any Meta service. In 2026, that is a significant life restriction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Social10x still operating?

No. Social10x was shut down in 2019 as part of the Facebook lawsuit settlement. The website is offline, and the operators are permanently banned from Meta platforms. The domain was sold, confirming the service will not return. Any site claiming to be Social10x is fraudulent.

Did Facebook sue Social10x directly?

Facebook and Instagram sued Social Media Series Limited, the New Zealand company that operated Social10x along with several other fake follower websites including SocialEnvy, IGFamous, LikeSocial, and SocialSteeze. Social10x was one of multiple storefronts named in the lawsuit.

How much did Social10x have to pay?

The settlement required a payment of $500,000 USD to Facebook. The original lawsuit sought $9.4 million in damages based on the estimated revenue from years of fake follower sales.

Were Social10x and SocialSteeze the same company?

Yes. Court documents, payment records, and investigative reports confirm that Social10x, SocialSteeze, SocialEnvy, LikeSocial, and IGFamous were all operated by the same New Zealand company and the same three individuals.

Can I get a refund from Social10x?

No. Social10x has been defunct since 2019. There is no mechanism for customer refunds. Money spent on Social10x fake followers is gone.

Did Social10x customers face legal trouble?

The Facebook lawsuit targeted the operators, not individual customers. However, customers faced other consequences: follower purges, potential account restrictions, and association with a fraudulent service.

Is HCLOUT safe compared to Social10x?

Absolutely. HCLOUT operates as a legitimate Instagram growth service, not a fake follower operation. We do not use fake accounts, bots, or automation that violates platform rules. We connect you with real users interested in your content. There is no legal risk, no platform risk, and no reputation risk.

What should I use instead of Social10x?

Focus on legitimate growth services like HCLOUT that deliver real followers. Avoid any service promising thousands of followers instantly for very low prices. If it sounds too good to be true, it uses fake accounts that will eventually be removed.

Lessons from Social10x's Fall

Social10x's collapse offers important lessons for anyone seeking Instagram growth:

Cheap Followers Means Fake Followers

Real engagement costs money. When a service offers 1,000 followers for $9, those are not real people. Real users have value and do not follow random accounts for fractions of a penny.

Multiple Storefronts Do Not Mean Legitimate

The Social10x operators ran six or more fake follower websites. Scale did not indicate legitimacy. It indicated a sophisticated scheme to evade detection and continue extracting money from customers.

Platform Enforcement Is Real

Facebook invested legal resources to shut down Social10x and similar operations. Platforms protect the integrity of their engagement metrics because advertiser trust depends on it.

Fake Followers Provide Zero Long-Term Value

Every follower Social10x sold eventually got deleted. The engagement never materialized. The social proof evaporated. Customers were left with nothing but smaller bank accounts and potentially compromised Instagram accounts.

Moving Forward After Social10x

If you used Social10x or similar services, those purchased followers are long gone. Instagram's detection systems have removed the bot accounts. Your follower count has returned to reality.

The good news: legitimate growth options exist now that did not exist when Social10x thrived. HCLOUT offers what Social10x customers actually wanted:

• Real followers who engage with your content
• Sustainable growth that does not get reversed
• No legal risk from association with fraudulent services
• No platform risk from Terms of Service violations
• Free tier to test before committing
• 24/7 support when you need assistance
• 30-day refill for risk-free trials

Ready to grow your Instagram the legitimate way? Try HCLOUT's free tier and experience what real growth looks like.

The Fake Follower Era Is Over

Social10x represented a specific moment in social media history when buying fake followers seemed like a viable shortcut. That moment ended in 2019 with the Facebook lawsuit.

Today's Instagram growth requires different approaches:

• Real followers who chose to follow you
• Genuine engagement from interested users
• Platform-compliant methods that protect your account
• Sustainable results that compound over time

Try HCLOUT free today and leave the Social10x era behind.

Last updated: January 2026. Social10x was shut down following a Facebook lawsuit in 2019 and has not returned. The operators are permanently banned from Meta platforms.