But as the chronicle deepens, the carnival masks its gears. The followers weren’t friends; they were automated confetti—bots or throwaway accounts that add digits but not life. Some users discovered sudden flurries of activity followed by strange stagnation. Others noticed accounts vanishing after a platform-wide cleanup, their artificial applause evaporating in a single sweep. Engagement metrics—saves, meaningful comments, long views—didn’t follow. What remained was a brittle sort of fame: loud numbers that crumbled under scrutiny.