Video services like youtube and twitch can fake subscriber numbers... do you think this is done on a regular basis in order to boost the perception that certain people's views are more accepted? ( conspiracy )

submitted by PM_me_your_mitts

Saw a video of some girl talking about how she is so humbled to have so many describers and it made me think about how easy it might be to boost your popularity through fake subscribers.

A quick internet search showed tons of sites advertising to do just that...

What are you opinions on this regarding extremely high subscriber level youtube personalities and information providers?

If there is no way to verify how many subscribers are real does any of it even matter?

7even6ix2wo

I think so. Yes.

ambissinistro

AKA reddit's business model?

Tripsick

That is the hope point. How else could they easily manipulate or profit from such things.

un1ty

Yes.

Lopsid

Sound like a conspiracy. Now, YouTube boosting the sub count just to bring someone up? That's more likely. I subscribe based on content only. In fact I have channels that I forgot about years ago. They're great. I would say that no one else looks at views, subs, and other bullshit.

GIF-lLL-S0NG

Once you hit 1 million subs likes and views you get paid for your uploads? and you are a youtube / google employee / contractor. Why would they not inflate the numbers win-win for google and the channel.

Sciency

I think most likely they sell view/sub counts, rather than manage the narrative directly. They probably choose their clients carefully though, so its effectively the same thing.

Even shorter answer: Yes they do. The practice is effective. This is why I don't use google services.

OhBlindOne

Oh most definitely.

People can't help themselves. I'm sure these providers do this kind of thing all the time to push what they agree with. I don't believe they take a ton of time out of their day to stifle all dissent, but companies like Twitter do it more actively and out-in-the-open than others.

RedLeader

It's no question. I no longer take new youtubers seriously no matter what the numbers. The site has cancer

frankenham

It works. I subbed to Casey Neistat just cause he had so many subscribers then after my second video I was just like, "wtf is this guy even so big for?" and couldn't see what made him so popular so I unsubbed. I'm usually pretty reluctant with subscribing to people too but went for an impulse sub cause "well he's popular so he must do a lot of cool shit."