6mo ago

(US) FTC rules creators can no longer buy fake followers or engagement

www.businessinsider.com The FTC is coming after influencers and brands that buy fake followers

The FTC issued a new rule saying creators and brands can't buy fake followers or engagement on accounts they use to make money.

I'm curious about everyone's thoughts on this. Do we think it will affect Canadian influencers? Maybe not yet, but I'd like to believe it's only a matter of time before a similar law finds its way up north.. and oh man, that day will be DELICIOUS.

You're viewing a single thread.

23 comments

How do you endore something like this when I could buy some monero or whatever the current "privacy" coin is and buy engagement from some random bot farm in some 3rd or 2nd world country?
- Someone answered below, but in case you don't see it--this statute specifically includes instances where the creator knew, or should have known, that increased numbers were fake. So, even if someone is able to buy 25k followers with crypto anonymously, a case could be made that such a sudden increase of thousands of new followers/views/comments/etc for no discernable reason is suspicious enough that the person in control of the account should have known it isn't organic and taken steps to rectify the situation.
  The particular influencer this sub is about is one of those people who purchases new followers in the tens of thousands daily. She is in egregious violation, whether or not the receipt is in her actual name.
  
  So Birdie’s additional 6,600 followers yesterday should be questioned under the new rules. Is that correct?
  
  I'd certainly like to hear her try to explain to the FTC how her actions on social media aren't deceptive. In fact, I'd pay good money to watch it on TV lol
  
  I believe so
  
  Is this her explanation? Her old videos are going viral? How does that happen? Have people maybe seen them on other sites?
  
  She's probably lying.
  
  That was my first thought too!

23 comments