29.04.2026 14:00
A fake engagement system created by an 18-year-old high school student in Tokyo using over 1,000 phones has sparked major controversy on social media. The teenager claimed they could boost viewership by thousands in under a minute, and the footage that emerged has brought the risk of manipulation on digital platforms back into the spotlight. Experts emphasize that such methods undermine credibility and lead to unfair competition.
An 18-year-old high school student living in Tokyo, Japan's capital, has created a "fake interaction farm" that became a trending topic on social media. The teen stated that by using hundreds or even over a thousand smartphones simultaneously, he artificially boosts the view and interaction counts of social media posts.
In the shared images, numerous phones lined up on shelves can be seen operating actively at the same time. Through the system, content receives collective views and interactions via different accounts. The teen claimed he could increase a post's view count by 8,000 in just one minute.
"I CAN INSTANTLY BOOST ANY METRIC I WANT"
The young entrepreneur, noting that he can quickly raise metrics like followers, likes, and views through his system, said, "I can boost any metric I want instantly." It is believed that this system could lead to unfair competition, especially among social media influencers and in digital marketing.
"DEAD INTERNET THEORY" DEBATE BACK ON THE AGENDA
Following the incident, the "Dead Internet Theory," which argues that the internet is largely filled with bots and fake interactions, has come up for debate again. Experts point out that such systems deepen the trustworthiness issue on digital platforms.
LEGAL AND ETHICAL DEBATES GROW
Although producing fake interactions violates the terms of use of many platforms, the spread of such systems highlights the inadequacy of oversight mechanisms. Experts warn that these activities could create economic and ethical problems across a wide spectrum, from the advertising industry to individual content creators.