Instagram has recently experienced a surge in the creation of profiles mimicking Meghan Markle's latest venture, the American Riviera Orchard lifestyle brand.
Meghan unveiled this new business endeavor in a polished video announcement on Thursday, offering tantalizing hints about its potential offerings. Within a short span, her profile garnered over 339,000 followers. However, an Insider investigation revealed that a significant portion of these followers were likely purchased, with estimates suggesting more than 200,000 were fake.
The unveiling sparked widespread speculation regarding the nature of the venture and the significance of its name, American Riviera Orchard. Despite the ambiguity surrounding it, numerous Instagram users swiftly replicated variations of Megan's handle, inadvertently exposing themselves to potential scams. Within just 24 hours of Megan's announcement, at least 15 users had already created accounts under the name American Riviera Orchard, some amassing over a thousand followers.
A striking aspect of these imitative accounts is their use of Megan's logo, which bears a strong resemblance to a royal crest, featuring the initials "AR," presumably representing American Riviera. Additionally, several accounts boldly claim to be managed by the Duchess herself, adopting titles such as "Megan, Duchess of Sussex." The proliferation of such accounts raises concerns about misinformation and fraudulent activity within the Instagram community.
While the exact nature of Megan's business remains unclear, the possibility of future product sales under her brand could potentially expose consumers to fraudulent accounts. Reports suggest that even Megan Markle's official account has been followed by bot accounts, artificially inflating her follower count. Such practices have led to skepticism regarding the authenticity of her follower base, with observations indicating a suspiciously rapid increase in followers following her announcement.
Former associates of Megan have shed light on the mechanics of rapidly increasing follower counts, highlighting the challenges even celebrities face in achieving such feats organically. The prevalence of bot followers, purchased in batches, contributes to the illusion of rapid growth. However, discerning observers note the lack of engagement on Megan's profile, with comments conspicuously absent despite the substantial influx of followers.
Critics have compared Megan's follower growth to that of other celebrities, highlighting what they perceive as underwhelming results. While she gained a considerable number of followers in a short period, it fell short of the meteoric rises seen by other public figures. Some attribute this discrepancy to the use of bot followers, detracting from the authenticity of her social media presence.
In summary, Megan Markle's foray into the American Riviera Orchard brand has sparked intrigue and imitation on Instagram. However, questions surrounding the legitimacy of her follower count and the authenticity of imitative accounts underscore the challenges of navigating social media in an era of increasing digital influence and scrutiny.
