I've been browsing Reddit for about 4 or 5 months and I've noticed a concerning trend of fake posts. Can anyone explain why this is happening? Is there perhaps a way people are profiting from the views or interaction on these posts? To be honest, I'm not interested in getting involved in anything dishonest like that. It makes me uncomfortable, especially since I'm just looking for some light entertainment while I wait for spring to get back to gardening. I figured I'd ask in the gardening section, but I'm curious if anyone knows the scoop on these fake posts.
3 Answers
A lot of fake posts are about building up an account's legitimacy and karma. People then sell these accounts to advertisers or political agents to help spread their brands more effectively. It's all about that 'fake it till you make it' strategy!
Yeah, that’s definitely what we call "karma farming." It’s a weird cycle!
If you see posts that seem fake, definitely report them! The mods will remove them, and those accounts can get banned. It's all about keeping the honesty in the community.
Another reason for fake posts is that Reddit sometimes promotes this kind of shallow engagement. Just like other social media platforms, they rely on clicks and views, which boosts advertising revenue. It's disappointing but not surprising.
But how does posting something like an obviously photoshopped image make money? It seems pointless without a link or anything.
Exactly! It’s strange how it seems to work. Just a bunch of upvotes isn’t a money link!
That makes sense, but it’s frustrating! I can’t wait to get back in the garden too. Thanks for sharing that! 🙂