Are your social media comments real—or just smoke and mirrors?

In this eye-opening episode of Everyone’s a Bot, host Chris Smith pulls back the curtain on the dark world of fake engagement, revealing how bot accounts, engagement pods, and like farms create the illusion of popularity on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

We dive into:

• What fake comments actually look like (and how to spot them)

• How social proof tricks your brain into believing the hype

• Why real creators are struggling to compete in a system that rewards fake likes and paid comments

• The rise of “hype ghosts”—bot-like users designed to boost clout without substance

Whether you’re a content creator, marketer, or just tired of getting duped by fire emojis, this episode breaks down how fake social media engagement is shaping the internet—and how not to fall for it.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro: “You knew it wasn’t real… but you bought it anyway.”

• 00:24 – Welcome to the comment section: a messy, suspicious lovefest

• 01:07 – Fake engagement explained: bots, like farms, and paid comment cults

• 02:02 – Why fake engagement works: social proof and the illusion of virality

• 03:01 – Spotting fake comments: patterns, weird compliments, and red flags

• 03:52 – The pressure on real creators: fakery vs. authenticity in the algorithm

• • 04:48 – Final thoughts: fake comments, real feelings—and why it matters

  
  

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