NB: I don't follow or leave comments on blogs run by Google Plus, or DISQUS as I refuse to join something just to leave comments, and I won't allow them to follow new people, update my profile or post tweets 'on my behalf'. I won't comment on any blog that makes me sign in using another account.
I'm using this week to have a bit of a rant about fake accounts, something that really bugs me.
I'm not much for social media really if I'm honest. Basically I joined Twitter to use it to promote the Indie authors whose books I was reviewing at the time. Now I don't get many review copies and most of the Indie stuff I review is what I buy or download myself. I don't have much time to get on Twitter. I have a Pinterest account that I love and get little time for. I use Goodreads daily, don't get time to go on Bookcrossing, which I miss, and that leaves Bloglovin, which I also use daily.
Bloglovin has it's issues as everyone who uses it knows. Don't get me started on this 'claim your blog' stuff!!! The thing about this site that bugs me the most is being followed by a ton of fake accounts. You know the ones I mean-a western sounding girls name followed by a 5 digit number and when you check the person out, the description is written in Russian, there is a link to sexytont or similar, no blog link, the 'person' hasn't saved any content just followed a ton of people...it's so obvious that these are fake bloggers yet bloglovin seems to be doing nothing about it! At the moment I'm being followed by at least 16 fake accounts and it is really annoying! Why don't bloglovin delete them? Or why don't I see a way to block these buggers myself? If anyone does know of a way, please tell me as it drives me mad!
Goodreads was having a similar issue with fake accounts. I was getting friend requests and instead of answering the question set, there were a few lines advertising a book and a link to a site to read it. A lot of Goodreads users seemed to be getting this and we reported it. I'm pleased to say that Goodreads did take it seriously and started working on a solution. I haven't had these fake friend requests for about eight weeks now which is good.
It is so annoying to see all this fake stuff around, especially if nothing is being done about it. It makes me wonder how many accounts on places like Twitter and Facebook are also fake. You also can't get away from talk about Russian interference in various elections around the world or trying to influence others through social media. It makes me think that it is hard to trust anything that I'm seeing and wondering if comments are being made on certain sites by fake people. I don't know, I enjoy using the internet but life was a lot more simple growing up when the most hi-tech thing I owned was Atari Pac-Man!!!
Do these fake accounts bug you? Where have you seen them popping up?
Yes! I keep getting those fake accounts too. I had gotten a few friend requests on GR, but I always check out the pages of people, who request me, and like you said, I saw the cyrrlic looking writing and declines. I have no idea how to delete followers or block them on BL.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Bloglovin really care which frustrates me! I don't want these stupid bot things following me! I also check out the sites of a new friend request and so far they seem legit other than that thing I mentioned. Grr!
DeletePreach it sister!
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely a problem on whatever platform one is on. I remember when I was on Booklikes how it seemed that about half the accounts were "businesses" or fakes, it was rather discouraging. Now that I'm on wordpress I STILL have to deal with that stuff. It's just plain silly.
It is definitely one of the reasons I've stayed away from other social sites. Haven't even bothered to "claim" my blogloving account, as I can't be bothered to go on there. It seems to work just fine without me needing to intervene :-)
It would drive you mad wouldn't it! That claim your blog thing is so annoyi ng to even think it! It's my blog so why am I being told I need to claim it from them? It's not as if a fake claimer can alter my blog content! Just another way to scare you into jumping through their hoops I think. I'd like to change from bloglovin but the alternatives are probably just as bad!
DeleteFake accounts bug me big time!! GR used to not care much so hopefully that really has changed.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly seem more interested in stopping it now which is more than I can say for other sites!
DeleteYES! I’m being followed by a horde of Russian bot accounts, too. I’m not sure how Bloglovin’ works, so I don’t know why they don’t delete them. The accounts don’t bother me because I don’t follow them back. I’ve never seen an update from one of them. The only thing that annoys me is when I get excited about having a new follower, but it turns out to be SexyLinda23456. That’s always a let-down. I care about books, Linda, not your nudes! Leave me alone!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
It really pisses me off!Like you say, you get excited when you see you have a new follower and you hope it's someone with the same book tastes and then you realise it's another stupid bot! Such a let down! I want an accurate count of my real followers not a fake number due to these stupid things!
DeleteIt hasn't been so bad for me with the fake accounts. But, I have gotten them too. I like to check out the person and see before I accept them of course. The worst for this is facebook. It seems like everyday I get a request from some military guy on there. I hate it.
ReplyDeleteMary
Lots of UK women are getting scammed by fake military men accounts on social media and dating sites who are really con men working out of Africa. I think they use fake military profiles to gain your trust easier and then ask you for money for some imaginary crisis going on! I'm glad I'm not on Facebook anyway!
DeleteI get them too. I wish bloglovin would give us a way to block or delete them. Drives me batty.
ReplyDeleteWhat I want to know is WHY we can't be allowed to block them! It's the same with some email providers that only allow you to send something to spam instead of blocking the spammer!
DeleteIt;s gotten really out of hand...
ReplyDeleteIt's so disappointing that social media providers just don't seem to care about stopping it!
DeleteI hadn't realised until you mentioned it here, but I haven't had any fake GR requests for several weeks. Twitter is riddled with fakes, but I tend to just follow back accounts that actually interest me and ignore the rest!
ReplyDeleteIt was really annoying getting those fake friend request things wasn't it! I mostly follow book related people and don't spend much time on Twitter so I haven't yet seen many of the fake accounts thankfully!
DeleteThere are a ton of fake accounts out there. This kind of goes hand in hand with spam comments on the blog. Why?! I don't really understand to the point of it all.
ReplyDeleteI don't get it either Carole! It's the same with these trolls that spend all day sending spiteful tweets and picking on people. They must have pretty pathetic lives if that is the 'fun' they get.
Delete