this post was submitted on 08 Jul 2023
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Automatically creating a shadow account for everyone on Instagram?

Even allowing people to follow that account?

Sounds like they really wanted to push Threads out the door in a big way.

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[–] [email protected] 160 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (4 children)

They’re not creating a shadow account, you’re literally logging in with your instagram account.

What this post is implying, is that the user numbers are just existing instagram accounts, which doesn’t make sense because in that case they’d have 2 billion users within the first second.

You can follow/request to follow before the user has actually "created" the account, so they’re lying about which users have done that already, not about how many users they actually have.

Come at me downvotes

[–] [email protected] 37 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Yeah, I signed up for it, they have an option for you to pre-follow people for when they sign up to threads

[–] MusketeerX 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Does that person who has been pre-followed then get a notification to join and respond/follow back?

Because that would be a great way to boost the new service exponentially.

[–] vizhal007 21 points 1 year ago
[–] ultratiem 2 points 1 year ago

This is the moment the account is made. Even if the other person doesn’t respond or has even created an account. That’s how they are driving up their numbers.

So long as you have an account you could potentially have a Threads account without your knowledge.

Meta is 100% artificially working the accounts.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I hate meta just like the next person, but I‘m not sure how that’s supposed to boost accounts, since you’re literally just seeing these once you already have the account.

They are of course using their advantage in providing you your existing following list /followers. And they’re definitely happy to push it, but this post is implying something that strikes me as plain wrong.

[–] danc4498 2 points 1 year ago

I think you're right. It looks like Instagram too. I feel like it's Instagram with a focus on words.