Scrolling through your feed after a rough work-day and there it is, a celebrity reel bursting with vibrant colors while playing catchy beats and that one viral influencer that you adore pushing the latest trend. The comments are usually filled with a nonstop show of praise such as “love this!” and “you’re everything!”, making it feel like the whole world is in on the magic. But what if that rush isn’t real? What if bots and algorithms are pulling the strings and boosting the hype and even targeting your emotional state? For people like us grinding through the daily hustle, most of us are too exhausted to notice. Let’s dig deeper.
Algorithm manipulation and bot farms should be criminally penalized because they fake genuine engagement, exploit our data for profit and erode real diversity that make our individual and shared stories meaningful.
Collectively, we’ve always chased the glow of celebrities from old Hollywood glamor to today’s endless reels lighting up our screens. However, in the age of rising technology, we must dig deeper to discern authenticity. Look into those comment sections and the love may feel oddly scripted. I believe that is no accident. Social media “bots” have been inflating interactions for years – even around high-profile stars and businessmen.
In 2021, Forbes revealed how these digital ghosts swarm posts with likes and shares. Even big names like Kim Kardashian and Bill Gates have follower lists riddled with fake accounts, with as many as 47% in Bill’s case.
This echoes claims made by The New York Times in 2018 who reported that some celebrities and politicians have been tied to purchasing followers in order to boost their online presence.
It hits harder when you realize how personal it gets. Those reels that are often wrapped in emotionally persuasive packaging aren’t random. Meta has been accused of manipulating algorithms that zero in on teens and young adults feeling “down”, according to Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, using tips like a deleted selfie to flag insecurity and deliver targeted ads. Internal documents show they track emotional states like “worthless” and “helpless” to push content straight to those vulnerable people’s screens. That’s not empowerment, that’s exploitation and this manipulation does not build inclusivity. This is a growing trend of quiet nudging, preying on our need for community as well as on our emotional state in order to make a buck.
Some could argue that cracking down on bots and algorithms would hinder free speech and expression by holding back creators, but this isn’t about silencing stories. Behind almost every celebrity face, hard-hitting video or marketing ad are anonymous puppeteers deciding what lands in your hand without warning. According to NBC Today in a 2019 report, these bot farms can be hired for “pennies on the dollar” to push preferred content and messaging.
There is nothing democratic about it, it is fraudulent data manipulation where users unwittingly feed into the machine for its profit. Criminalization and fines wouldn’t end the party of bot farms and algorithmic control, but it would clean up our timelines by ensuring our true diversity isn’t drowned out by fake engagement and content pushing. There should be freedom from online targeted harassment by algorithms and bot farms.
Shelby Unsilent 