Chapter 1: Encountering Spam on Social Media

Recently, I found myself dealing with a spam follower issue on social media, specifically on Medium. I had just begun my day, reading an article that referenced a pornographic site, when I noticed a spam account following me. This experience left me feeling uneasy and a bit vulnerable. I couldn't shake the thought that there might be individuals using our personal information to harass us online.

It’s not feasible to simply abandon Medium, so I decided that blocking these accounts was the best course of action. However, I couldn't help but wonder what motivated that particular account to follow me. Was I a target?

Later in the evening, I stumbled upon a story by TB Obwoge, who explicitly identified the spammer. According to his findings, the account belonged to someone named Jennifer…

Chapter 2: The Reality of Spam Accounts

My experience continued when I discovered another account named Tine, which featured the same profile image as Jennifer. This led me to believe that either these accounts were interchangeable or that numerous spammers were operating under different names to promote the same adult content.

I could relate to TB Obwoge’s experience, as I had been followed by an account featuring a provocative image and a direct link to a porn site. It’s clever, really; the spammer understands that most users would hesitate to engage with such explicit content, so they craft their headlines to entice clicks without the need for actual engagement.

Spam like this has become alarmingly common on platforms like Medium, which are typically regarded as safe and respectful spaces for writers and readers alike.

Chapter 3: The Need for Awareness

In sharing my story, I aim to raise awareness about these spam accounts. Spam can infiltrate any platform, and while some writers are brave enough to highlight these issues, many others may still be affected without realizing it.

We must support one another in recognizing and reporting spam, ensuring that others are aware when something seems suspicious. It is my hope that Medium takes swift action to block these accounts and protect its community from such nuisances.

Here is a video titled "Stop social media spam accounts from following you" by @Barnacules, which provides useful tips on avoiding spam on social media.

In another video titled "So many porn bots! Why doesn't Instagram remove them?" the creator discusses the prevalence of spam accounts and the challenges in combating them.