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- The FTC has a new rule saying creators can't buy fake followers on accounts they use to make money.
- The agency said it would crack down on false indicators of influence that could deceive consumers.
- Brands also can't pay for fake engagement without risking the FTC's ire.
It's always been a bad look for influencers to buy fake followers.
Marketers think you're phony and deceptive. Users wonder why there's a big gap between your audience size and "likes."
But now, the downsides of trying to buy influence are getting more severe.