Gaming Social Media

Researchers Call Out Twitter Celebrities With Suspicious Followings

Nicole Perlroth writes:

There are now more than two dozen online services willing to sell fake followers. Based on the number of fake accounts offered through those services — excluding overlapping accounts — Mr. Stroppa and Mr. De Micheli estimate that there are now more than 20 million fake accounts on Twitter. Those accounts can be sold to multiple buyers. At quoted rates, the two said a conservative estimate is that fake Twitter followers offer potential for a $40 million to $360 million business.

She discusses, among others, a Colorado congressman.

Once watched a former Colorado TV reporter gain several thousand "new" Twitter followers a day.

Asked him privately about it: "I must have gotten on a list." Right.

Gaming social media?

It's your reputation.