Story perspectives

Study Reveals Cost-Effective Creation of Fake Social Media Accounts

12/12/2025

Summary

Story summary

University of Cambridge researchers show fake social media accounts can be created for 10–30 cents using throwaway phone numbers.
Their study, published in Science, shows how easily the Short Message Service (SMS) verification barrier can be bypassed.
The findings indicate account fraud remains an issue, with WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter) facing costs and regulations.
The study calls for focus on economic aspects of online disinformation.
WhatsApp acknowledged the research.

1 of 1

Story summary

University of Cambridge researchers show fake social media accounts can be created for 10–30 cents using throwaway phone numbers.
Their study, published in Science, shows how easily the Short Message Service (SMS) verification barrier can be bypassed.
The findings indicate account fraud remains an issue, with WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter) facing costs and regulations.
The study calls for focus on economic aspects of online disinformation.
WhatsApp acknowledged the research.