The automated generation of artificial viewership on live streaming platforms, specifically YouTube, constitutes a form of illegitimate manipulation of metrics. This involves utilizing software or scripts to simulate human viewers, inflating the perceived popularity of a live broadcast. An instance of this practice would be employing a program designed to repeatedly access and play a YouTube live stream, thereby increasing the view count without genuine user engagement.
The practice carries significant implications for content creators and the platform itself. It undermines the integrity of audience metrics, leading to skewed analytics and potentially impacting advertising revenue distribution. Historically, the pursuit of increased visibility has driven individuals to adopt such methods, despite the ethical and policy violations involved. The artificial inflation of viewership can mislead viewers, advertisers, and even the content creator themselves regarding the true popularity and value of the content.