🚨 Instagram New Follower Welcome Automation Is LIVE but Not Triggering (Tried Everything)

Hi everyone 👋
I’m running into an issue with a new follower welcome automation on Instagram and I’m a bit stuck.

Context:

• Brand new Instagram account

• Automation is set to LIVE in ManyChat

• The automation should send a message when someone follows the account

• I’ve tested it multiple times with different new followers

• The message never triggers

What I’ve already verified / tried:
✅ Instagram account is Professional (Creator/Business)
✅ Instagram permissions are correctly enabled:

• Instagram → Settings and activity → Messages and story replies → Message controls → Connected tools

• “Allow access to messages” is ON
  ✅ Clicked “Update permissions” in ManyChat (Help section)
  ✅ Automation shows no yellow dot (no unpublished changes)
  ✅ Automation status is LIVE
  ✅ Reconnected Instagram account more than once

At this point, everything appears to be set up correctly, but the automation still doesn’t fire when someone follows the account.

Has anyone experienced this with new Instagram accounts or follower-trigger automations specifically?
Is there any hidden limitation, delay, or additional step I might be missing?

Any insight or direction would be greatly appreciated 🙏