Instagram's Dark Secret: 40% Fake Engagement Revealed in FTC Trial

Instagram's Fake Engagement: A 2018 Warning Surfaces in FTC Trial This week's antitrust trial against Meta revealed startling internal documents. In 2018, a Meta executive warned that as much as 40% of Instagram engagement was fake. This alarming revelation raises serious questions about the platform's integrity and the potential for widespread manipulation. The executive's email, sent to then-Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, expressed concern that the unchecked fake activity posed a significant threat to public trust, stating that it "left unchecked...will be crushing for the company." The email also highlighted the need for immediate steps to improve Instagram's integrity, including blocking bots and implementing stricter account verification. The surfacing of this information during the FTC trial underscores the ongoing debate about social media's responsibility in combating fake engagement and maintaining user trust. Experts are now weighing in on the implications, and the ongoing trial is expected to shed further light on the issue.