Software designed to automatically generate positive feedback on videos hosted on YouTube, without cost to the user, is readily available. This software simulates human interaction by artificially inflating the number of “likes” a video receives. As an example, a program might repeatedly click the “like” button on a specified video, using either multiple accounts or masking its IP address to avoid detection.
The perceived popularity of content can be artificially amplified through the use of such software. Historically, this has been used to manipulate viewer perception and potentially influence the ranking algorithms that YouTube employs. The goal is often to increase the video’s visibility, making it more likely to be discovered by a wider audience, and consequently, potentially increasing organic engagement.