The 'influencer who doesn’t exist': Social media platforms struggle to detect AI profiles - WRAL
WRAL is reporting on the story above. It caught our attention because it may affect readers checking their internet or a specific service on SpeedTestTools right now.
When you scroll through your daily feeds, you expect the people offering lifestyle advice, recommending products, or chatting in the comments to be actual humans. When computer-generated accounts slip through platform filters undetected, it becomes much harder to trust what you see on your screen. These fake profiles can easily push misleading claims, promote unreliable products, or attempt to gather personal information from unsuspecting followers.
You can protect yourself today by looking a little closer at unfamiliar accounts. Pay attention to profile pictures for subtle visual flaws, such as mismatched earrings, oddly warped backgrounds, or unnaturally smooth skin. Look through their recent activity as well; accounts with very few genuine interactions, sudden surges of generic comments, or repetitive posts are worth questioning. Never click unfamiliar links sent via private message or share personal details with accounts you cannot verify.
Taking a moment to double-check who you interact with is the best way to keep your social feeds safe and honest.
- Run a quick speed test — get concrete numbers before assuming it's your ISP.
- Open the Down Detector board to see which major services are actually having issues right now.
- If numbers look off, walk through the Fix-My-Internet checklist — most issues clear in the first two steps.