Bot & Paid For

 

This is totally legit.

Let's say you're a Niche Insta Personality, and seemingly out of nowhere, because you have amazing insights into uric scald, you announce that you have attained 150k followers.
Of course, you Praise The Universe. Because the Universe is a giver, right?

Probably not. There are dead planets and dying stars to infinity. Let's look closer to home.

CUE UP THE BONER-KILLERS

 This will hurt me more than you, promise. I cut to the chase to save you the heavy lifting.

"...In short, a fake Instagram account is one that's not actually run by an individual human being. Some of these accounts are mass-created by people; others are mass-created by bots. Some are used to spam comments, likes, etc., while others are left dormant. Every social media provider is plagued by these fake accounts."

[SFX: LAUGHTER]

This isn't new. Sitcom laugh tracks for example, which had their origin in radio.
Details here: 

[SFX: APPLAUSE]

Clackers: Hired applauders and flatterers, dating back to Greek theatre, thence to Rome and into modern times. I'm certain this art didn't die during Medieval Times either, before or after the roast chicken.

I'll quote the venerable Encyclopedia B here: 

"Under the Roman Empire claques were common in the theatres and law courts; flatterers and legacy hunters would often serve as claqueurs at private performances sponsored by wealthy patrons of the arts. The emperor Nero established a school of applause and was followed on his concert tours by a claque of 5,000 knights and soldiers."

I love the part about legacy hunters. Butt wait, there's more!

"In France during the 18th century, the chevalier Jacques de La Morlière and the poetaster Claude-Joseph Dorat organized claques to support plays by themselves and others. The claque became a permanent institution in the 19th century, and almost every theatre in Paris was forced to submit to its services; the claque leaders, who received monthly payments from the actors and free tickets from the managements, were extremely influential. In addition to the leader, or chef de claque, there were the commissaires, who memorized the better parts of the play and called their neighbours’ attention to them; the rieurs, who laughed loudly during comedies; the chatouilleurs (“the ticklers”), who kept the audience in good humour; the pleureuses, women who wept during melodramas; and the bisseurs, who shouted for encores. Claques have occasionally been employed in England but never with the elaborate organization of the French claques." 

CURTAIN CALL

The human need for recognition and ego-boosting is ancient, alive and well. Social Media with AI is the latest iteration.

"Thanks for coming to my TED Talk"

Please clap. No refunds.