You Can Buy (Fake) Followers, Likes, and Viewers

27 Replies

I read about this in an article by Constant Dullaart in Hyperallergic, Why I’m Amassing an Army of Fake Facebook Followers, where he states he bought fake followers with  “Profiles made to look like actual people, made to follow any profile I wanted for $0.002 each, so $5,000 bought me 2.5 million followers.” He says that there are people already doing this to make their product, candidate, and art look much more popular than they really are.

Isn’t it satisfying, a bit scary, ( and humbling I hope), to see more Followers for your blog? I mean real followers, not ones you bought and paid for.

by Kate Ter Haar

image by Kate Ter Haar

Dullaart goes on to say how some artists were basing the market value of their work on You Tube views and being influenced on the types of work they produced according to the social media responses. He calls this trend in marketing ” the attention economy.” It turns my stomach a little.

A friend of mine just wrote that he received an email offering lots of fake views for a cheap cost. It sounds similar to what Dullaart was saying.

I like to think that I will go on writing whatever I write according to my inner inspiration, feelings, and things I feel strongly about, and not get too overly upset or influenced by Likes and Followers.

The best reason I have for liking real Likes, Comments, and Follows is that people show me they are reading what I am writing, which is encouraging. How do you feel about Social Media responses influencing what you write and are you shocked by the article and my  blogger friend reporting the ability to buy followers, likes, and views?

27 thoughts on “You Can Buy (Fake) Followers, Likes, and Viewers”

    1. Deborah Drucker Post author

      Yes Anna and according to the article by Daallard people in PR are doing this right now to make their clients look popular so they can sell more of whatever their client is selling. But I agree with you Anna and here’s to sanity! Thank You 🙂

      Like

      Reply ↓
  2. Yolanda Renee

    I’ve seen the offers on twitter, and don’t understand the mentality. How does it transfer to sales? Are most of us that shallow? Follow no matter what we’re following – I don’t think so – I hope not! Gosh the online world is an odd place, sometimes.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. Deborah Drucker Post author

      It is kind of bizarre. Like a fake world. But maybe it shows us that we need to not get carried away with this need for approval. I think it can transfer to sales if people think you are popular and PR people can use it to promote you.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
      2. Deborah Drucker Post author

        I do not like popularity contests either. Makes me uncomfortable. It is more interesting to be on the outside looking in. I have a feeling many writers are like that, good observers, because they were the ones quietly observing everything.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Priceless Joy

    It doesn’t shock me but it also doesn’t interest me in the least. I think those who buys followers are probably feeding their own ego, if that is even possible with fake followeres and likers. Like you, I would rather know people are following me because they like what I write.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. Deborah Drucker Post author

      I have thought about how I would feel with a huge number of followers and likes. I would need to keep it in perspective. I am like you that I like to get to know the people who are liking me on a regular basis or how we are in writers groups together, because then the likes are a more meaningful recognition from other writers who are in the group. But people are buying followers, likes, and views to sell a product. To make someone( a celebrity or politician) or their art look more popular than it really is.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
  5. Opinionated Man

    I’m not surprised and it is pretty sad actually. But I guess people always want to buy a way to “cheat” right? =\

    I have put in countless hours to gain the small following I have. I couldn’t imagine spending 5 grand to get where I know I can go on my own.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. Deborah Drucker Post author

      I think the Dullaart article was saying that people were doing this for their clients who were celebrities, politicians, and artists. But a couple of people have said they have either been offered fake viewers or have seen the offers on Twitter. “The attention economy,” selling likes, followers and views. I guess someone was going to figure out how to make a buck off it eventually. There is a side to this likes and followers stuff that does make me uncomfortable though. That inspired my image at the top. Sometimes it feels to me like the Roman Arena where you get the thumbs up or thumbs down at a whim. I think Social Media can be fickle and shallow. So that’s why I like smaller groups where I get to know the people.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
  6. luckyjc007

    I don’t know how having followers such as that can make someone feel good…they know it isn’t the post that is causing the numbers to go up. I’m not interested in numbers, I would rather have substance and have the satisfaction that what I posted was interesting to someone. That makes posting even more enjoyable and I enjoy the feedback I get and always look forward to the different opinions and ideas people have. It’s a learning experience to listen to others.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

Comments

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.