London: Want to look more popular on social
networking sites? Don't worry, just buy some 1,000 'fake
friends' for only 125 pounds.
According to reports, many users of Facebook and other
social networking sites who fear they do not have enough
friends are "buying" them to look more popular.
They are spending 125 pounds for blocks of 1,000 friends
on Facebook and Twitter, and such service is provided by a
small Australian company called uSocial, The Daily Telegraph
reported.
According to Leon Hill, the chief executive of uSocial,
his company reported a surge of inquiries about this service
over Christmas.
"Social networking sites can be cruel if you're unloved ?
they show exactly how popular you are," Hill was quoted as
saying.
"People are buying pals so they have more mates to chat
to, rather than sitting alone on their PCs."
However, many claim that such service abuses the
principles of social networking sites.
One such complainant on his website leanbhill.com wrote:
"uSocial utilises armies of dummy accounts on such websites to
cheat and promote content on behalf of its clients.
"In other words, uSocial violates online communities for
money. This is shameful and deplorable. It exploits the
assumption of trust and goodwill that allows Internet
communities to thrive."
Lawyers for Facebook have also tried to get the service
shut down, the report said.
-PTI
First Published: Friday, January 08, 2010, 23:25