Facebook, X have a headache because of the 'phone dead' coin

A phone box system consisting of hundreds of machines to run interactions on social networks. Photo: NND .

Box phone and phone farm are the names of devices that create virtual activities on social networks that are called by online money-makers in Vietnam. From old components and technological waste, they are gathered to help owners earn huge income through digital platforms.

Not only operating in Vietnam, box phone is also used for global services and international customers, making technology corporations such as Meta and X tired to find ways to handle it.

Virtual interaction, real money exchange

With just a few simple keywords like "buy likes, buy views" on search engines, users receive thousands of results. The sellers advertise for only a few dozen to less than 1,000 VND for each interaction, advertised from real profiles.

According to Mr. NND, a person who is operating a phone farm with thousands of devices, the need for virtual "canvas" living and online sales has caused services like the above to flourish in Vietnam. "I have been doing this since 2019, but this job has only developed in the last 2-3 years," Mr. D. told Tri Thuc - ZNews.

The device to run the box phone does not need a screen or battery, it only needs a mainboard and access to the Internet. Photo: NND

According to Mr. Duc That, a service provider for installing phone boxes, the devices are mainly Samsung smartphones, which are highly compatible. At the same time, to save costs, the devices are completely stripped of all unnecessary components for running the application. For example, the screen, battery, camera, and case are all removed. The price to buy this type of goods is usually very cheap, mostly discarded phone bodies.

A system of 10 smartphones is powered directly and managed via a separate circuit board on the host computer. The operating and control solution is provided by the seller.

"These machines are then attached to social media accounts, run auto-posting software, and nurture them as real users. They are then used to share livestreams, develop groups, and create crowd effects. Service sellers often find ways to bypass the system. The automatic seeding, with 'juggling' back and forth, makes it difficult for ordinary people to distinguish between real and fake," Mr. D. shared about his work.

Headaches for tech companies

In addition to helping customers increase their online reputation , fake activities also manipulate algorithms on applications. Facebook, TikTok or X all use online indicators to evaluate content and adjust distribution. Profiles with many followers and likes can reach more people.

According to Mr. D., in addition to serving domestic customers, people making money online in Vietnam also reach international users through public advertising. "Many people do it but they are secretive, few people know they are from Vietnam," said the above individual.

Group of 8 Vietnamese people were sued by X for abusing policies and running virtual interactions.

In 2024, in a report on hostile threats on the platform, Meta cited an investigation into a manipulation scheme targeting users in the Middle East, carried out by accounts from a company called LT Media. The company identified the group as originating in Vietnam.

"LT Media provided services to operate fake accounts and evade detection by online platforms . Meta has sent a cease and desist letter to LT Media, forcing them to immediately stop their policy-violating activity," Facebook's parent company wrote.

The technology group said the scale of the incident was up to 38,000 profiles and 1.2 million USD in advertising money, all paid in VND.

Recently, X accused a group of 8 Vietnamese people of using "bots" to create posts, fake interactions, and embezzle money from the revenue sharing policy. To run such tasks, phone boxes are the way to avoid being marked with unusual IPs.

Elon Musk's company filed a lawsuit in US federal court, demanding that these individuals pay damages and legal fees. After taking over the social network, the world's richest man also set a goal of dealing with "bots" on the platform, seeing this as one of the most pressing problems to eliminate.

Source: https://znews.vn/facebook-x-dau-dau-vi-dong-xac-dien-thoai-post1556962.html