They’ve been doing that for just Facebook for at least a decade at this point, with the primary intent of tracking online activity of literally as many people as they can. Much of it is done in an “anonymous” fashion - tied to device MACs, IMEIs, source IP, etc, along with cookies that they’ve persuaded most SaaS companies to integrate on their sites (and often apps), instead of tying it directly to your PII.

[–] MusketeerX@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Yes, but in this instance, they are allowing people to pre-follow that shadow account and then apparently you get a notification to say they have followed you promoting you to join and follow them back.

That's a very cunning way to boost their new service quickly!

I'm relieved they're not doing that with WhatsApp.

[–] ignitionnight@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

You keep saying the word shadow account like it's some nefarious thing. They are following an existing Instagram account that they already follow, and will get a notification when that existing account starts using a new service.

There is nothing wrong with this.

[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, all fair points. And I agree that letting early adopters concretely engage with/follow shadow accounts that “don’t exist yet” is very fucking cheeky and, imo, more than a bit disingenuous.