The practice involves compensating a third party to increase the number of positive endorsements a video receives on the YouTube platform. This artificial inflation aims to create the perception of popularity and influence viewer behavior. For example, a channel owner might purchase a package of these endorsements to boost a new video’s initial engagement metrics.
This action is undertaken with the objective of enhancing the video’s visibility within the YouTube algorithm and attracting organic viewers. Historically, such approaches have been adopted as a shortcut to achieving rapid growth and establishing social proof. However, the long-term effectiveness and ethical implications of this approach are subject to debate, particularly as YouTube’s detection mechanisms become more sophisticated.