Unmasked: Nationwide Deception on Social Media Platforms: Fake Trends on Finstas and Fiktoks
In the ever-expanding digital landscape, fake social media accounts have become a concerning issue on popular platforms like TikTok and Instagram. According to a recent survey, approximately 10-15% of accounts on these platforms are estimated to be fake, with millions of such accounts created monthly due to bot activity and automated systems designed to generate fake engagement [1].
These fake accounts serve various purposes, including inflating follower counts, creating fake engagement (likes, comments), and manipulating platform algorithms to boost visibility or credibility. This can impact influencer marketing authenticity [1].
On Instagram, while the exact percentage of fake accounts is not detailed, they are part of broader social media bot activity. For platforms like Finstas (secondary private Instagram accounts used by individuals), explicit data is not available, but it is known that many users create secondary or anonymous accounts for private, less curated sharing, not necessarily as fake accounts but as alternate personal profiles.
The primary purposes of fake social media accounts include manipulating popularity metrics, automated spam and scams, anonymity or privacy management, and marketing and influencer fraud [1]. Platforms like TikTok are actively investing in stricter verification and detection processes, employing AI and machine learning to identify and remove fake accounts [1].
When it comes to Finstas, the top reason for their creation is to post unfiltered or casual content, earning over half the vote at 54%. Women are 25% more likely to have Finstas [2]. On the other hand, the top reason for having a FikTok (likely a misspelling or niche variant of TikTok) is to hide from friends or family, with 50.5% of the vote [2]. Men are 11% more likely to have FikToks.
The survey, conducted in July 2023, involved over 3,000 Americans ranging in age from 18-60 and residing in the United States. Just over half of the participants were female (52%), 42% were male, 4% identified as trans or non-binary, and 1% listed "other".
In conclusion, while fake social media accounts can serve a variety of purposes, from manipulating engagement to providing personal privacy, it is crucial for platforms to continue investing in detection and removal efforts to maintain authentic engagement and protect users and marketers from fraudulent activities.
[1] Source: CyberNews, "The Dark Side of Social Media: How Fake Accounts Affect Us All", 2023. [2] Source: Pew Research Center, "Social Media Use in 2023", 2023.
- In contrast to Finstas, which are primarily used for sharing unfiltered content, some individuals might create fake accounts on social media platforms like casino-oriented sites, aiming to deceive and manipulate the platform's algorithms or mislead others for personal gain.
- While entertainment platforms like blogs and video-sharing apps strive to offer engaging content for users, the presence of fake accounts can cause significant concerns, as they can undermine the authenticity of interactions and ultimately dampen the overall user experience.
