The transmission of content, often unauthorized, through duplicated social media accounts that mimic existing brand marketing fan pages across platforms such as TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram, presents a multifaceted challenge. For instance, a seemingly legitimate fan page may proliferate promotional material originating from an unverified or malicious source.
The significance of this phenomenon lies in its potential to damage brand reputation, disseminate misinformation, and facilitate phishing or other fraudulent activities. Historically, the proliferation of counterfeit accounts has mirrored the growth of social media platforms, evolving from simple impersonation to sophisticated schemes designed to deceive and exploit users.