It’s not just bots that are “gaming Instagram”—real people are offering their accounts up to services that like and comment on their behalf. Some users pay services like Fuelgram a fee to join a group of engagement traders, where their accounts auto-like and comment other subscribers’ posts quid pro quo. BuzzFeed reporters tested one such service, finding that they could rack up 1,500 likes for an all-black square. Ethics aside, the cyclical practice further complicates the ever-expanding world of influencer marketing. (BuzzFeed)
