“If you receive a friend request from me, it’s fake. Do not accept it.” This is something that most, if not all, social media users see on a regular basis.

According to socialmediaclub.org, 2-3 percent (roughly 60 million) of all Facebook accounts are fake. Additionally, an estimated 8 percent of Twitter profiles are fake and can be difficult to pick out, according to staysmartonline.gov.

There are endless reasons for why people make fake social media accounts, but none are acceptable. Whether it is high-profile stories that are filling news feeds about Russian hackers or smaller scale hackers trying to steal your social security number to make some money, the impact they leave can be enormous. Even if it is not hackers you are worried about, there are also everyday people making these accounts for malicious, but more personal, reasons.

There are many things that are easier to do online than in person, and fake accounts give people the anonymity they need to bully or catfish.

This is not just a small, one-man operation anymore, but an industry worth $700 million. For example, in 2017, police raided a click farm in Thailand, in which over 450 smartphones and 300,000 sim cards were discovered, giving insight into this underground trade.

Fake social media profiles are a real problem, and they have caused an industry of “buying likes.” They threaten your identity, expose you to scams and can use your information to exploit you. Even on a smaller scale, fake accounts can be used to bully, catfish and cause mental harm to an individual.

Technology is a wonderful tool, and social media has opened up a whole new world of networking and connection, but just like anything else, it must be used responsibly. With the rise in social media and a growing awareness for hacking, cyberbullying and catfishing, there is a large push for adding securities to your online connections. Something as simple as using a stronger password and utilizing two-factor authentication can make all the difference, and not accepting requests from people you do not know or requests from people you think you may already be friends with is, generally, a good way to stay safe.

Small changes in your everyday life can make all the difference in protecting yourself and your information.