001 | She Followed You First: Why Social Media Bots Feel So Real

You knew it wasn’t real—but you looked anyway. 👀

In this debut episode of Everyone’s A Bot: A Social Media Story, host Chris Smith dives headfirst into the DM that started it all. You know the one: “Hey cutie.” Zero posts. Maximum thirst. Somehow... you still felt something. Why?

We explore the weird psychology behind bot accounts that flirt, follow first, and trigger real emotions. From the dopamine rush of fake compliments to the eerie comfort of algorithmic attention, this episode unpacks why even the smartest of us get caught looking.

🤖 They're not catfishing for cash (yet). They’re farming your clicks, and your brain loves it.

If you've ever replied just to see what happens—or wondered why a digital ghost made you feel kinda special—this one’s for you.

🔍 You’ll Learn:

• Why bots act more human than your ex
• How flirty DMs hack your brain’s reward system
• The fine line between fake validation and real emotion Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: “You liked my post. I followed you first.” 00:23 – That suspicious DM: Flirty bots and algorithmic blessings 01:09 – “What if she’s real?”: The fantasy behind fake profiles 01:52 – Bots aren’t scamming—yet. They’re farming your attention 02:40 – You replied for fun, but ended up 30 mins deep 03:22 – If it feels good, does it matter if it’s fake? 03:57 – Wrap-up: Trust is low, engagement is high + Next episode teaser #SocialMediaBots #DigitalDeception #FakeProfiles #OnlineTrust #BotAccounts #AIInfluencers #AlgorithmHacks #CatfishCulture #DMScams #EmotionalAI #HumanVsBot #AIConversations #DopamineRush #FakeValidation #TechAndPsychology #OnlineFlirting #BotSeduction #EveryoneIsABot #AIOnSocialMedia #DigitalManipulation #SocialMediaPsychology #FlirtyBots #ScrollCulture #InfluencerAI #RealOrBot