Sometimes we have to learn the hard way, and boy, did I. I should have known there’s no magic shortcut to growing a real social media following. But I tried anyway. Desperate to break out of stagnation and frustrated by a lack of engagement, I let Path Social pitch me on their “organic growth service.”
It was a $98 lesson in what not to do.
I was charged for two billing cycles despite trying to cancel. The catch? To stop charges, you must “unpause” your account, essentially activating a new billing cycle, to access the cancellation button. Sound backwards? That’s because it is. It’s also potentially illegal.
Deceptive Billing Tactics
Path Social’s setup is a case study in predatory negative-option billing, the kind flagged by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under 16 CFR § 310.3. Essentially, customers are often charged automatically unless they jump through opaque and illogical hoops to cancel.
Across Reddit, Trustpilot, and Better Business Bureau complaints, the pattern is clear:
“I was forced to unpause my account just to cancel, then they billed me $49. Total scam.” —Reddit user, r/InstagramGrowthTips
“100% fake followers. Path Social’s idea of ‘growth’ is spam bots and vanity metrics.” —Trustpilot reviewer
Fake Followers, Zero Engagement
What did I get for my $98? A bunch of new “followers” who looked suspiciously like bots—no bios, no posts, no engagement. Others report that Instagram penalized their content after using the service, likely due to interaction with fake accounts.
Path Social promises “authentic Instagram growth,” but the results show otherwise. Here’s what real users have reported:
- Accounts flooded with ghost followers
- No increase in comments, likes, or reach
- A damaged algorithm ranking from fake engagement
Consumer Voices
This isn’t just my story. Consider these:
- One small business owner lost over $1,700 before receiving any help.
- Another user described “cancellation runarounds” with support emails that never resolved anything.
- A popular YouTuber posted a 12-minute video titled: “Path Social is a SCAM—Here’s What They Don’t Tell You.”
These aren’t isolated cases—they’re part of a broader pattern of unethical digital marketing practices.
What Can You Do?
If you’ve been affected, don’t stay silent. Here are some steps:
- File a Complaint
- Dispute the Charge
- Initiate a chargeback with your credit card or bank provider.
- Spread Awareness
- Leave honest reviews on Trustpilot, Reddit, or Google to warn others.
Final Thought
Digital growth is a long game. There are no shortcuts, and anyone promising fast, effortless results is usually selling smoke. If you’re trying to grow a brand or platform, the best advice remains timeless: post authentic content, build community, and measure success by real engagement, not fake followers.
Stay smart. Stay skeptical. And please, don’t fall for the same trap I did.
