The propagation of unsolicited and often deceptive content through inauthentic profiles on Instagram, specifically within the ephemeral sharing feature, constitutes a digital nuisance. These profiles, designed to mimic genuine users, exploit the platform’s features to distribute advertising, phishing attempts, or malicious links via short-lived visual narratives.
The proliferation of this phenomenon impacts user experience, diminishing trust in the platform and potentially exposing individuals to fraud or security risks. Its emergence reflects the evolving tactics of malicious actors seeking to leverage social media for illicit gains, requiring constant vigilance and adaptation from both the platform and its users.
