Looking to boost the number of followers you have on your microblog ? In China, a country where face often trumphs all in social matters, there's a quick though dubious solution.
The government-published Shanghai Daily reported on Tuesday that microbloggers can increase their number of followers through services that will sign up thousands of “zombie” fans in hours. The cost, it said, is 500 yuan, or about $79, per 10,000 followers on popular Twitter-like microblog services such as the one offered by Nasdaq-listed Sina.com. "The 'fans' take no part in microblog discussions but merely raise the status of users," the newspaper said. A "live follower" costs more, it said.
Besides selling followers, the companies can be hired to sway opinions during microblog debates and to flog products. The article didn’t provide the name of any vendors, and suggested that advertisements for their services are viewed by some as a form of harrassement.
“The lack of any laws or regulations to stop vendors setting up a range of shady businesses mean that microbloggers, as well as customers of the online services, may be cheated but have no one to complain to,” the newspaper said.
The article in the state-run newspaper didn’t say what, if anything, the government would do about it.
