The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) unanimously passed a new federal regulation with a 5-0 vote on August 14 to combat the issue of fake reviews on social media platforms. The regulation prohibits the buying and selling of any form of fake social media influence indicators, including followers, views, likes, etc., generated by bots or hijacked accounts. Once published in the Federal Register, these rules are expected to take effect in 60 days, officially coming into force in October. This move signifies that the U.S. consumer protection agency will intensify its efforts to crack down on practices that artificially enhance online reputations, aiming to maintain a fair and transparent online environment.